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Peringuey's tetra (Brycinus peringueyi) — Alestidae

Peringuey's tetra

Brycinus peringueyi
Family: Alestidae
LC · Least Concern

The Peringuey's tetra (Brycinus peringueyi) is a freshwater fish of the family Alestidae that grows up to 13 cm.

Length
13.3 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Large groups
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

Peringuey's tetra is a small African tetra (Alestidae) from the fresh waters of Central Africa. The species has a slender, laterally compressed, silvery body with a metallic sheen. It lives in schools in rivers, floodplains and swamps. As an omnivore it feeds on insects, small zooplankton and plant matter. It is an important prey fish for larger predators. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Peringuey's tetra?

The Peringuey's tetra has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Peringuey's tetra live?

The Peringuey's tetra lives in fresh water and is mostly found around open water.

How big does the Peringuey's tetra get?

The Peringuey's tetra grows to a maximum of about 13 cm.

Is the Peringuey's tetra dangerous to humans?

No, the Peringuey's tetra is harmless to humans.

Is the Peringuey's tetra edible?

The Peringuey's tetra is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Peringueys Afrikaanse zalm sourced
English name
Peringuey's tetra sourced
Scientific name
Brycinus peringueyi
Family
Alestidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
13.3 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Large groups inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
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 sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Brycinus

More from the family Alestidae

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