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False spotted catfish (Corydoras leucomelas) — Callichthyidae

False spotted catfish

Corydoras leucomelas
LC · Least Concern

The False spotted catfish (Corydoras leucomelas) is a freshwater fish of the family Callichthyidae that grows up to 5 cm.

Length
4.5 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The false spotted corydoras is a small armoured catfish from the western Amazon basin in Peru, Colombia and Brazil. The species grows to about 5 cm and has a light body with fine spots, a dark eye band and a dark dorsal-fin blotch; rows of bony plates armour the flank. As a bottom-dweller it searches the soft bottom in schools for small invertebrates and can breathe air through its gut. The fish is harmless to humans, popular in the aquarium trade and assessed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the False spotted catfish?

The False spotted catfish has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly white and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the False spotted catfish live?

The False spotted catfish lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the False spotted catfish get?

The False spotted catfish grows to a maximum of about 5 cm.

Is the False spotted catfish dangerous to humans?

No, the False spotted catfish is harmless to humans.

Is the False spotted catfish edible?

The False spotted catfish is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Valse stip-pantsermeerval verified
English name
False spotted catfish verified
Scientific name
Corydoras leucomelas
Family
Callichthyidae
Other names
False spotted catfish sourced

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
4.5 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
White inferred
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
Yes sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

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

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Geen doelsoort voor de hengelsport; hooguit incidentele vangst of bruikbaar als aasvisje. 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 Corydoras

More from the family Callichthyidae

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