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Horseman's corydoras (Corydoras eques) — Callichthyidae

Horseman's corydoras

Corydoras eques

The Horseman's corydoras (Corydoras eques) is a freshwater fish of the family Callichthyidae that grows up to 5 cm.

Length
4.8 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Horseman's corydoras is a small armoured catfish (Callichthyidae) from fresh water of the western Amazon basin in Brazil. The species grows to about 5 cm and has a stocky body with two rows of overlapping bony plates and three pairs of barbels around an underslung mouth. The body has an orange-red tinge with a green flank patch. As a gregarious bottom-dweller it roots in groups through soft sand in search of worms, larvae and detritus and can take a gulp of air at the surface. The fish is harmless to humans and is popular in the aquarium trade.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Horseman's corydoras?

The Horseman's corydoras has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Horseman's corydoras live?

The Horseman's corydoras lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Horseman's corydoras get?

The Horseman's corydoras grows to a maximum of about 5 cm.

Is the Horseman's corydoras dangerous to humans?

No, the Horseman's corydoras is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Roodkop-pantsermeerval sourced
English name
Horseman's corydoras sourced
Scientific name
Corydoras eques
Family
Callichthyidae
Other names
Horsemans cory sourced

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
4.8 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Barbels
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

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 Corydoras

More from the family Callichthyidae

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