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Stuebel's thorny catfish (Opsodoras stuebelii) — Doradidae

Stuebel's thorny catfish

Opsodoras stuebelii
Family: Doradidae

The Stuebel's thorny catfish (Opsodoras stuebelii) is a fish of the family Doradidae that grows up to 15 cm.

Length
15 cm
Activity
Nocturnal
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Can cause injury

Description

Stuebel's thorny catfish is a thorny or talking catfish (Doradidae) from fresh water of the Amazon basin in South America. The species grows to about 15 cm and has a stocky, brownish body with a row of stout, thorny bony plates along the flank and powerful, serrated pectoral spines; by rubbing these against the shoulder girdle it can make a grunting sound. As a bottom-dweller it searches for molluscs, insect larvae and detritus. The sharp spines and thorny plates can inflict a wound when handled.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Stuebel's thorny catfish?

The Stuebel's thorny catfish is mainly brown.

Where does the Stuebel's thorny catfish live?

The Stuebel's thorny catfish is mostly found around mixed bottom.

How big does the Stuebel's thorny catfish get?

The Stuebel's thorny catfish grows to a maximum of about 15 cm.

Is the Stuebel's thorny catfish dangerous to humans?

The Stuebel's thorny catfish can cause injury; handle it with care.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Stübels doornmeerval sourced
English name
Stuebel's thorny catfish sourced
Scientific name
Opsodoras stuebelii
Family
Doradidae

Appearance

Max length (cm)
15 sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Barbels
Yes sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Can cause injury verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Opsodoras

More from the family Doradidae

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