Home · Characidae · Saw characin
Saw characin (Stethaprion crenatum) — Characidae

Saw characin

Stethaprion crenatum
Family: Characidae

The Saw characin (Stethaprion crenatum) is a freshwater fish of the family Characidae that grows up to 9 cm.

Length
8.5 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
South America: Bolivia, Brazil

Want the complete picture on the Saw characin?

Get the app

Description

The Saw characin is a small South American characin (Characidae) from fresh water of the Amazon basin in South America. The species grows to about 9 cm and has a deep, strongly laterally compressed, silvery body with a sharp belly edge and large eyes. As a schooling fish it swims in quiet river reaches and eats small zooplankton, insects and plant material. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Saw characin?

The Saw characin has a flattened, disc-shaped body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Saw characin live?

The Saw characin lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom. South America: Bolivia, Brazil

How big does the Saw characin get?

The Saw characin grows to a maximum of about 9 cm.

Is the Saw characin dangerous to humans?

No, the Saw characin is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Saw characin?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Saw characin is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Saw characin sourced
Scientific name
Stethaprion crenatum
Family
Characidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
8.5 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Natural range
South America: Bolivia, Brazil sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Invertebrates, algae and detritus inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Stethaprion

More from the family Characidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Saw characin?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Saw characin is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Saw characin? Get the app