Home · Loricariidae · Flatnose twig catfish
Flatnose twig catfish (Farlowella platorynchus) — Loricariidae

Flatnose twig catfish

Farlowella platorynchus
Family: Loricariidae

The Flatnose twig catfish (Farlowella platorynchus) is a freshwater fish of the family Loricariidae that grows up to 19 cm.

Length
19.4 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Herbivore
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Flatnose twig catfish is a twig catfish (Loricariidae) from clear, flowing rivers of the Orinoco and Amazon basin in South America. The species grows to about 15 cm and has an extremely slender, elongate, twig-shaped body with a long, flat snout and an inferior sucker mouth, perfectly camouflaged among twigs and roots. As a bottom-dweller it clings to wood and stones and rasps algae and biofilm. The male guards the eggs. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Flatnose twig catfish?

The Flatnose twig catfish has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Flatnose twig catfish live?

The Flatnose twig catfish lives in fresh water and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Flatnose twig catfish get?

The Flatnose twig catfish grows to a maximum of about 19 cm.

Is the Flatnose twig catfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Flatnose twig catfish is harmless to humans.

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
Platsnuit-twijgmeerval sourced
English name
Flatnose twig catfish sourced
Scientific name
Farlowella platorynchus
Family
Loricariidae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
19.4 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Fishing method
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. 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 Farlowella

More from the family Loricariidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

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

Get the beta →