Home · Alestidae · Brachypetersius notospilus
Brachypetersius notospilus — Alestidae

Brachypetersius notospilus

Brachypetersius notospilus
Family: Alestidae
NE · Not Evaluated

The Brachypetersius notospilus is a freshwater fish of the family Alestidae that grows up to 7 cm.

Length
7.4 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Range
Congo basin
Edibility
Not eaten

Want the complete picture on the Brachypetersius notospilus?

Get the app

Description

Brachypetersius notospilus is a small African characin from fresh water of the Congo basin in Central Africa. The species grows to about 7 cm and has a slender, silvery, laterally compressed body with a dark blotch on the flank. It schools in clear forest streams and rivers and feeds on small zooplankton, insects and plant matter. The fish is harmless to humans and has no commercial value. The IUCN has not evaluated the species.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Brachypetersius notospilus?

The Brachypetersius notospilus has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a spots pattern. Silvery body with a dark flank blotch; schooling forest-stream characin

Where does the Brachypetersius notospilus live?

The Brachypetersius notospilus lives in fresh water and is mostly found around open water. Congo basin

How big does the Brachypetersius notospilus get?

The Brachypetersius notospilus grows to a maximum of about 7 cm.

Is the Brachypetersius notospilus dangerous to humans?

No, the Brachypetersius notospilus 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 Brachypetersius notospilus edible?

The Brachypetersius notospilus is not usually eaten.

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Brachypetersius notospilus?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Brachypetersius notospilus is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Brachypetersius notospilus verified
Scientific name
Brachypetersius notospilus
Family
Alestidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
7.4 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Natural range
Congo basin verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small zooplankton, insects and plant material inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Schooling forest-stream tetra; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Silvery body with a dark flank blotch; schooling forest-stream characin 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 Brachypetersius

More from the family Alestidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Brachypetersius notospilus?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Brachypetersius notospilus is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Brachypetersius notospilus? Get the app