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Tucan fish (Chalceus erythrurus) — Characidae

Tucan fish

Chalceus erythrurus
Family: Characidae

The Tucan fish (Chalceus erythrurus) is a freshwater fish of the family Characidae that grows up to 25 cm.

Length
24.5 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The tucan fish is a characin (Chalceidae) from fresh water of the western Amazon basin in South America. The species grows to about 25 cm and has a streamlined, silvery body with large scales on the forebody and a conspicuously red-coloured tail. As an active, schooling predator it hunts insects and small fish near the surface of rivers and jumps nimbly. The fish is harmless to humans and is known from the aquarium trade.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Tucan fish?

The Tucan fish has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Tucan fish live?

The Tucan fish lives in fresh water and is mostly found around open water.

How big does the Tucan fish get?

The Tucan fish grows to a maximum of about 25 cm.

Is the Tucan fish dangerous to humans?

No, the Tucan fish is harmless to humans.

Is the Tucan fish edible?

Yes, the Tucan fish is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Toekanvis sourced
English name
Tucan fish sourced
Scientific name
Chalceus erythrurus
Family
Characidae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
24.5 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Te vangen met natuurlijk aas of kunstaas, afgestemd op de grootte en het leefgebied van de soort. 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 Chalceus

More from the family Characidae

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