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Adolf's catfish (Corydoras adolfoi) — Callichthyidae

Adolf's catfish

Corydoras adolfoi

The Adolf's catfish (Corydoras adolfoi) is a freshwater fish of the family Callichthyidae that grows up to 6 cm.

Length
5.7 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Rio Negro
Edibility
Not eaten

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Description

Adolf's catfish is a small armoured catfish from the upper Rio Negro in the Amazon region of Brazil. The species grows to about 6 cm and has a stocky, whitish body with two rows of bony plates, a black eye band, an orange nape patch and a black dorsal stripe. As a bottom-dweller it probes soft sand with its barbels for worms, crustaceans and insect larvae. It lives in groups. The fish is harmless to humans and is highly prized in the aquarium trade.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Adolf's catfish?

The Adolf's catfish has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly white and shows a spots pattern. Bony plates, a black eye band and an orange nape blotch; sought-after aquarium fish

Where does the Adolf's catfish live?

The Adolf's catfish lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Rio Negro

How big does the Adolf's catfish get?

The Adolf's catfish grows to a maximum of about 6 cm.

Is the Adolf's catfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Adolf's catfish is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Adolf's catfish edible?

The Adolf's catfish is not usually eaten.

More photos

Adolf's catfish (Corydoras adolfoi) — Callichthyidae — 2
Division of Fishes (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Adolf's catfish (Corydoras adolfoi) — Callichthyidae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — Claudio de Oliveira, Laboratório de Biologia e Genética de Peixes - UNESP - Botucatu (CC BY 3.0)
Adolf's catfish (Corydoras adolfoi) — Callichthyidae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — Corydoras-adolfoi (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Adolf's catfish verified
Scientific name
Corydoras adolfoi
Family
Callichthyidae
Other names
Adolfo's corydoras sourced

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
5.7 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
White sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
Yes sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Natural range
Rio Negro verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Worms, crustaceans and insect larvae inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Bottom-grubbing armoured catfish; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Bony plates, a black eye band and an orange nape blotch; sought-after aquarium fish sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Not a target species for angling; at most an incidental catch or usable as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Corydoras

More from the family Callichthyidae

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