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Benjamin's catfish (Entomocorus benjamini) — Auchenipteridae

Benjamin's catfish

Entomocorus benjamini
NE · Not Evaluated

The Benjamin's catfish (Entomocorus benjamini) is a freshwater fish of the family Auchenipteridae that grows up to 7 cm.

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

Description

Benjamin's catfish is a small driftwood catfish from fresh water of the Amazon and upper Paraguay basins of South America. The species grows to about 7 cm and has a slender, partly translucent, scaleless body, an adipose fin and long barbels. As a nocturnal, schooling fish it swims in the midwater of rivers and pools and feeds on small zooplankton and insect larvae. These catfishes practise internal fertilisation. The fish appears in the aquarium hobby. The IUCN has not evaluated the species.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Benjamin's catfish?

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

Where does the Benjamin's catfish live?

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

How big does the Benjamin's catfish get?

The Benjamin's catfish grows to a maximum of about 7 cm.

Is the Benjamin's catfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Benjamin's catfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Benjamin's catfish edible?

The Benjamin's catfish is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Benjamins drijfhoutmeerval verified
English name
Benjamin's catfish verified
Scientific name
Entomocorus benjamini
Family
Auchenipteridae

Appearance

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

More from the family Auchenipteridae

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