Home · Loricariidae · Schomburgk's bristlenose
Schomburgk's bristlenose (Lasiancistrus schomburgkii) — Loricariidae

Schomburgk's bristlenose

Lasiancistrus schomburgkii
Family: Loricariidae

The Schomburgk's bristlenose (Lasiancistrus schomburgkii) is a freshwater fish of the family Loricariidae that grows up to 14 cm.

Length
14.4 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Herbivore
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
South America: Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru

Want the complete picture on the Schomburgk's bristlenose?

Get the app

Description

Schomburgk's bristlenose is an armoured catfish (Loricariidae) from fresh water of the Amazon and Orinoco basins in South America. The species grows to about 14 cm and has a flattened, bony-plated, dark body with a broad sucker mouth; males bear fine bristly hairs on the cheeks. As a bottom-dweller it clings to wood and stones in rivers and rasps algae and growth. The fish is harmless to humans and is known from the aquarium trade.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Schomburgk's bristlenose?

The Schomburgk's bristlenose has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Schomburgk's bristlenose live?

The Schomburgk's bristlenose lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. South America: Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru

How big does the Schomburgk's bristlenose get?

The Schomburgk's bristlenose grows to a maximum of about 14 cm.

Is the Schomburgk's bristlenose dangerous to humans?

No, the Schomburgk's bristlenose 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.

More photos

Schomburgk's bristlenose (Lasiancistrus schomburgkii) — Loricariidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Laurimar Sepulveda, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Schomburgk's bristlenose (Lasiancistrus schomburgkii) — Loricariidae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — François-Louis Laporte, comte de Castelnau (Public domain)
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Schomburgk's bristlenose?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Schomburgk's bristlenose is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Schomburgk's bristlenose sourced
Scientific name
Lasiancistrus schomburgkii
Family
Loricariidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
14.4 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Natural range
South America: Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Herbivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Algae and plant material inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal 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 Lasiancistrus

More from the family Loricariidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Schomburgk's bristlenose?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Schomburgk's bristlenose is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Schomburgk's bristlenose? Get the app