Home · Loricariidae · Inspector pleco
Inspector pleco (Hypancistrus inspector) — Loricariidae

Inspector pleco

Hypancistrus inspector
Family: Loricariidae

The Inspector pleco (Hypancistrus inspector) is a freshwater fish of the family Loricariidae that grows up to 13 cm.

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

Description

The Inspector pleco is an armoured catfish (Loricariidae) from fresh water of the Rio Negro region in Brazil. The species grows to about 12 cm and has a flattened, bony-plated, brown body and an inferior sucker mouth with which it clings to wood and stones. As a nocturnal bottom-dweller it rasps algae, biofilm and wood and searches for small invertebrates. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Inspector pleco?

The Inspector pleco has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Inspector pleco live?

The Inspector pleco lives in fresh water and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Inspector pleco get?

The Inspector pleco grows to a maximum of about 13 cm.

Is the Inspector pleco dangerous to humans?

No, the Inspector pleco is harmless to humans.

Is the Inspector pleco edible?

Yes, the Inspector pleco is commonly 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
Inspecteur-harnasmeerval sourced
English name
Inspector pleco sourced
Scientific name
Hypancistrus inspector
Family
Loricariidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
12.6 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Forked 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 sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

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

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 →