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Amazon silver curimata (Psectrogaster amazonica) — Curimatidae

Amazon silver curimata

Psectrogaster amazonica
Family: Curimatidae
NE · Not Evaluated

The Amazon silver curimata (Psectrogaster amazonica) is a freshwater fish of the family Curimatidae that grows up to 19 cm.

Length
19 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The Amazon silver curimata is a characin relative from fresh water of the Amazon basin of South America. The species grows to about 19 cm and has a deep, silvery, strongly compressed body with toothless jaws. As a bottom-feeder it schools in rivers and floodplains and feeds on detritus, algae and microscopic benthic life. During high water it migrates onto the plains. It is a local food fish. The IUCN has not evaluated the species.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Amazon silver curimata?

The Amazon silver curimata has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Amazon silver curimata live?

The Amazon silver curimata lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom.

How big does the Amazon silver curimata get?

The Amazon silver curimata grows to a maximum of about 19 cm.

Is the Amazon silver curimata dangerous to humans?

No, the Amazon silver curimata is harmless to humans.

Is the Amazon silver curimata edible?

The Amazon silver curimata is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Amazone-zilverkarper verified
English name
Amazon silver curimata verified
Scientific name
Psectrogaster amazonica
Family
Curimatidae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
19.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Netvisserij sourced
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 Psectrogaster

More from the family Curimatidae

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