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Brown whiptail catfish (Loricariichthys brunneus) — Loricariidae

Brown whiptail catfish

Loricariichthys brunneus
Family: Loricariidae

The Brown whiptail catfish (Loricariichthys brunneus) is a freshwater fish of the family Loricariidae that grows up to 32 cm.

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

Description

The brown whiptail catfish is an armoured catfish (Loricariidae) from northern South America. The species grows to about 32 cm and has an elongate, bony-plated, brown body, a sucker mouth and a long, thin tail stalk. As a bottom-dweller it lives over sand and mud bottoms of rivers and rasps growth and detritus from the bed and wood. The male carries the eggs beneath an enlarged, lip-like lower lip. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Brown whiptail catfish?

The Brown whiptail catfish has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a marbled pattern.

Where does the Brown whiptail catfish live?

The Brown whiptail catfish lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Brown whiptail catfish get?

The Brown whiptail catfish grows to a maximum of about 32 cm. On average the species is around 19 cm.

Is the Brown whiptail catfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Brown whiptail catfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Brown whiptail catfish edible?

The Brown whiptail catfish is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Bruine lepelmeerval sourced
English name
Brown whiptail catfish sourced
Scientific name
Loricariichthys brunneus
Family
Loricariidae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
31.5 verified
Average length (cm)
18.9 sourced
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Marbled sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) sourced
Lips
Thick / fleshy sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

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

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Herbivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
Yes sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
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 verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Loricariichthys

More from the family Loricariidae

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