Home · Characidae · Cocha bocachico
Cocha bocachico (Grundulus cochae) — Characidae

Cocha bocachico

Grundulus cochae
Family: Characidae

The Cocha bocachico (Grundulus cochae) is a freshwater fish of the family Characidae that grows up to 6 cm.

Length
6.1 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Range
South America: Colombia

Want the complete picture on the Cocha bocachico?

Get the app

Description

The Cocha bocachico is a small characin (Characidae) from cold mountain lakes and streams of the Andes in Colombia in South America. The species grows to about 5 cm and has a slender, silvery body with glossy scales and an adipose fin. Adapted to cold, clear highland water it swims in schools and snaps at small zooplankton, insect larvae and algae. Through its extremely small range the species is vulnerable. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Cocha bocachico?

The Cocha bocachico has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Cocha bocachico live?

The Cocha bocachico lives in fresh water and is mostly found around open water. South America: Colombia

How big does the Cocha bocachico get?

The Cocha bocachico grows to a maximum of about 6 cm.

Is the Cocha bocachico dangerous to humans?

No, the Cocha bocachico 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.

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Cocha bocachico?

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

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Cocha bocachico sourced
Scientific name
Grundulus cochae
Family
Characidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
6.1 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
Natural range
South America: Colombia sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Invertebrates, algae and detritus inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
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 Grundulus

More from the family Characidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Cocha bocachico?

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

Get the app →
Is this the Cocha bocachico? Get the app