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Graceful pimelodella (Pimelodella gracilis) — Heptapteridae

Graceful pimelodella

Pimelodella gracilis
Family: Heptapteridae
LC · Least Concern

The Graceful pimelodella (Pimelodella gracilis) is a freshwater fish of the family Heptapteridae that grows up to 18 cm.

Length
18 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The graceful pimelodella is a small catfish from South America, widely distributed in the Amazon, Orinoco and La Plata basins. The species grows to about 18 cm and has a slender, silver-grey body with a dark longitudinal stripe and very long barbels, characteristic of the antenna catfishes. As a bottom-dweller it is nocturnal and searches with its barbels for insect larvae, worms and small invertebrates. It has sharp pectoral spines; handle with care. The fish is assessed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Graceful pimelodella?

The Graceful pimelodella has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a horizontal stripes pattern.

Where does the Graceful pimelodella live?

The Graceful pimelodella lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Graceful pimelodella get?

The Graceful pimelodella grows to a maximum of about 18 cm.

Is the Graceful pimelodella dangerous to humans?

No, the Graceful pimelodella is harmless to humans.

Is the Graceful pimelodella edible?

The Graceful pimelodella is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Sierlijke antennemeerval verified
English name
Graceful pimelodella verified
Scientific name
Pimelodella gracilis
Family
Heptapteridae
Other names
Graceful pimelodella verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
18.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Horizontal stripes sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
Yes sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

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

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No 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 sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Pimelodella

More from the family Heptapteridae

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