Home · Poeciliidae · Terver's lampeye
Terver's lampeye (Plataplochilus terveri) — Poeciliidae

Terver's lampeye

Plataplochilus terveri
Family: Poeciliidae
EN · Endangered

The Terver's lampeye (Plataplochilus terveri) is a freshwater fish of the family Poeciliidae that grows up to 6 cm.

Length
5.5 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The Terver's lampeye is a lampeye (Procatopodidae) from slow-flowing streams, pools and swamps of western Central Africa. The species grows to only about 4 cm and has a slender, semi-translucent body with a strikingly bright, blue-green glowing eye-ring. As a social, surface-oriented fish it swims in schools and snaps at mosquito larvae, small plankton and small invertebrates. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Terver's lampeye?

The Terver's lampeye has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Terver's lampeye live?

The Terver's lampeye lives in fresh water and is mostly found around open water.

How big does the Terver's lampeye get?

The Terver's lampeye grows to a maximum of about 6 cm. On average the species is around 4 cm.

Is the Terver's lampeye dangerous to humans?

No, the Terver's lampeye is harmless to humans.

Is the Terver's lampeye edible?

The Terver's lampeye is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Tervers lampoogje sourced
English name
Terver's lampeye sourced
Scientific name
Plataplochilus terveri
Family
Poeciliidae
Other names
Terver's lampeye verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
5.5 verified
Average length (cm)
4.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Superior (upward) inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
Yes inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Geen doelsoort voor de hengelsport; hooguit incidentele vangst of bruikbaar als aasvisje. 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 Plataplochilus

More from the family Poeciliidae

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