Home · Aspredinidae · Eggeating banjo catfish
Eggeating banjo catfish (Amaralia hypsiura) — Aspredinidae

Eggeating banjo catfish

Amaralia hypsiura
Family: Aspredinidae

The Eggeating banjo catfish (Amaralia hypsiura) is a freshwater fish of the family Aspredinidae that grows up to 13 cm.

Length
13.3 cm
Water
Freshwater
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The eggeating banjo catfish is a banjo catfish (Aspredinidae) from slow-flowing fresh water of the Amazon basin in South America. The species grows to about 12 cm and has a flattened, broad head tapering into a thin tail and a rough skin that camouflages it among leaf litter, with fringed barbels. As a nocturnal bottom-dweller it specialises in sucking up the eggs of other catfishes, and also eats small invertebrates. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Eggeating banjo catfish?

The Eggeating banjo catfish has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a marbled pattern.

Where does the Eggeating banjo catfish live?

The Eggeating banjo catfish lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Eggeating banjo catfish get?

The Eggeating banjo catfish grows to a maximum of about 13 cm.

Is the Eggeating banjo catfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Eggeating banjo catfish is harmless to humans.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Eierrover-banjomeerval sourced
English name
Eggeating banjo catfish sourced
Scientific name
Amaralia hypsiura
Family
Aspredinidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
13.3 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Marbled sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Barbels
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

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

More from the family Aspredinidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →