Home · Erythrinidae · Redfin trahira
Redfin trahira (Erythrinus erythrinus) — Erythrinidae

Redfin trahira

Erythrinus erythrinus
Family: Erythrinidae
LC · Least Concern

The Redfin trahira (Erythrinus erythrinus) is a freshwater fish of the family Erythrinidae that grows up to 20 cm.

Length
20 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

Erythrinus erythrinus is an elongate freshwater predator of the family Erythrinidae, widespread in tropical South America, especially the Amazon and Orinoco basins. It grows to about 20 cm and has a cylindrical, brownish-red body with a large, small-toothed mouth. Living in slow-moving and still waters, it can gulp air with its swim bladder, allowing it to survive oxygen-poor water and even short journeys over land between pools. A nocturnal predator, it hunts small fishes, insects and crustaceans. The species is only rarely eaten.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Redfin trahira?

The Redfin trahira has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Redfin trahira live?

The Redfin trahira lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Redfin trahira get?

The Redfin trahira grows to a maximum of about 20 cm.

Is the Redfin trahira dangerous to humans?

No, the Redfin trahira is harmless to humans.

Is the Redfin trahira edible?

The Redfin trahira is rarely eaten.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Roodvin-trahira inferred
English name
Redfin trahira inferred
Scientific name
Erythrinus erythrinus
Family
Erythrinidae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
20.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Rounded sourced
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No verified
Dorsal fins
One continuous verified
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

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

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore verified
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes verified
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten inferred
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. 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 Erythrinidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →