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Wolterstorff's pearlfish (Austrolebias wolterstorffi) — Rivulidae

Wolterstorff's pearlfish

Austrolebias wolterstorffi
Family: Rivulidae

The Wolterstorff's pearlfish (Austrolebias wolterstorffi) is a freshwater fish of the family Rivulidae that grows up to 10 cm.

Length
10 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

Wolterstorff's pearlfish is a relatively large, annual killifish (Rivulidae) from temporary pools of the coastal plain of Uruguay and southern Brazil in South America. The species grows to about 10 cm; males are dark blue with pale spots, females brownish. It lives in rain pools that dry out in the dry season: the adults die, but the eggs survive dry in the mud and hatch with the next rains. As a small predator it hunts small invertebrates and small fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Wolterstorff's pearlfish?

The Wolterstorff's pearlfish has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly blue and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Wolterstorff's pearlfish live?

The Wolterstorff's pearlfish lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom.

How big does the Wolterstorff's pearlfish get?

The Wolterstorff's pearlfish grows to a maximum of about 10 cm.

Is the Wolterstorff's pearlfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Wolterstorff's pearlfish is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Wolterstorffs prachtkarper sourced
English name
Wolterstorff's pearlfish sourced
Scientific name
Austrolebias wolterstorffi
Family
Rivulidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
10.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Blue sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
Yes sourced

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

Same genus Austrolebias

More from the family Rivulidae

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