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Slender catfish (Pimelodella procera) — Heptapteridae

Slender catfish

Pimelodella procera
Family: Heptapteridae

The Slender catfish (Pimelodella procera) is a freshwater fish of the family Heptapteridae that grows up to 12 cm.

Length
11.7 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Carnivore
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Slender catfish is a three-barbeled catfish (Heptapteridae) from fresh water of the Amazon basin in South America. The species grows to about 11 cm and has an elongate, greyish, scaleless body with long barbels and an adipose fin. As a nocturnal bottom predator it shelters by day among stones and roots and searches for insect larvae, crustaceans and small fish at night. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Slender catfish?

The Slender catfish has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Slender catfish live?

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

How big does the Slender catfish get?

The Slender catfish grows to a maximum of about 12 cm.

Is the Slender catfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Slender catfish is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Slanke antennemeerval sourced
English name
Slender catfish sourced
Scientific name
Pimelodella procera
Family
Heptapteridae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
11.7 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Barbels
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

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

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

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

Same genus Pimelodella

More from the family Heptapteridae

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