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Grant's leporinus (Leporinus granti) — Anostomidae

Grant's leporinus

Leporinus granti
Family: Anostomidae
LC · Least Concern

The Grant's leporinus (Leporinus granti) is a freshwater fish of the family Anostomidae that grows up to 20 cm.

Length
20 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Fresh water of north-eastern South America (the Guianas), in clear, flowing rivers and creeks.
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

Grant's leporinus is a slender, elongate characin of the family Anostomidae (headstanders) reaching about 20 cm. The yellowish-brown body bears dark cross-bands or blotches and has a small mouth with gnawing, incisor-like front teeth, with which the fish nibbles algae and growth off stones and wood. Like other headstanders it often swims at an angle with the head down. The species comes from the Guianas in northeastern South America and lives in schools in clear, flowing rivers and creeks. As an omnivore it eats algae, plant matter, seeds and small invertebrates. In the rainy season it spawns. For its markings it occasionally appears in the aquarium hobby, and locally it is a food fish.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Grant's leporinus?

The Grant's leporinus has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly yellow-gold and shows a vertical stripes pattern. Slender, elongate small characin with dark vertical bars or blotches and rodent-like front teeth; often swims at an angle with the head down.

Where does the Grant's leporinus live?

The Grant's leporinus lives in fresh water and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Fresh water of north-eastern South America (the Guianas), in clear, flowing rivers and creeks.

How big does the Grant's leporinus get?

The Grant's leporinus grows to a maximum of about 20 cm.

Is the Grant's leporinus dangerous to humans?

No, the Grant's leporinus is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Grant's leporinus edible?

Yes, the Grant's leporinus is commonly eaten.

More photos

Grant's leporinus (Leporinus granti) — Anostomidae — 2
Florida Museum of Natural History Ichthyology (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — UF
Grant's leporinus (Leporinus granti) — Anostomidae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — Internet Archive Book Images (No restrictions) [illustratie]
Grant's leporinus (Leporinus granti) — Anostomidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Joreu Henrique, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Grant's leporinus (Leporinus granti) — Anostomidae — 5
© President and Fellows of Harvard College (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — MCZ
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All data

Identification

English name
Grant's leporinus verified
Scientific name
Leporinus granti
Family
Anostomidae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
20.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Yellow / gold sourced
Pattern
Vertical bars sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No verified
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No verified

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater verified
Substrate
Stone or rock verified
Natural range
Fresh water of north-eastern South America (the Guianas), in clear, flowing rivers and creeks. verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore verified
Diet (detail)
Algae, plant parts, seeds and small invertebrates sourced
Social behaviour
Schooling verified
Territorial
Yes verified
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes verified
Sexual dimorphism
No verified
Seasonality
Spawns in the rainy season; eggs and larvae drift in open water. sourced
Special features
Slender, elongate small characin with dark vertical bars or blotches and rodent-like front teeth; often swims at an angle with the head down. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten verified
Fishing method
Fishing with natural bait (fish, shrimp, worm) or lures close to reef and rock structures. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Leporinus

More from the family Anostomidae

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