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Spotted headstander (Chilodus punctatus) — Chilodontidae

Spotted headstander

Chilodus punctatus
Family: Chilodontidae
LC · Least Concern

The Spotted headstander (Chilodus punctatus) is a freshwater fish of the family Chilodontidae that grows up to 18 cm.

Length
18 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Range
South America; calm, vegetated parts of the Amazon and Orinoco basins.
Edibility
Not eaten

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Description

The spotted headstander is a South American characin of the family Chilodontidae from the Amazon and Orinoco basins. The species grows to about 18 cm and has a pale body densely studded with fine dark spots and a dark lateral stripe. Characteristic is its oblique, head-down swimming posture, to which the name 'headstander' refers. It inhabits quiet, vegetated parts of rivers and creeks. With its downward-facing mouth it picks growth, algae, detritus and small invertebrates from plants and substrate. It is a peaceful species popular in the aquarium and is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Spotted headstander?

The Spotted headstander has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a spots pattern. Finely spotted body and an oblique, head-down swimming posture ('headstander').

Where does the Spotted headstander live?

The Spotted headstander lives in fresh water and is mostly found around open water. South America; calm, vegetated parts of the Amazon and Orinoco basins.

How big does the Spotted headstander get?

The Spotted headstander grows to a maximum of about 18 cm.

Is the Spotted headstander dangerous to humans?

No, the Spotted headstander is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Spotted headstander edible?

The Spotted headstander is not usually eaten.

More photos

Spotted headstander (Chilodus punctatus) — Chilodontidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Michael Bakker Paiva, some rights reserved (CC BY))
Spotted headstander (Chilodus punctatus) — Chilodontidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Michael Bakker Paiva, some rights reserved (CC BY))
Spotted headstander (Chilodus punctatus) — Chilodontidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Evan Hessels, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Spotted headstander (Chilodus punctatus) — Chilodontidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Evan Hessels, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Spotted headstander verified
Scientific name
Chilodus punctatus
Family
Chilodontidae
Other names
Spotted headstander verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
18.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Spots inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) 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
Natural range
South America; calm, vegetated parts of the Amazon and Orinoco basins. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Biofilm, algae, detritus and small invertebrates sourced
Social behaviour
Schooling inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred
Special features
Finely spotted body and an oblique, head-down swimming posture ('headstander'). sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Angling with lures or (dead/live) baitfish by trolling, casting or drift fishing in open water. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Chilodus

Spotted headstander (Chilodus zunevei) — Chilodontidae
Spotted headstander (Chilodus zunevei)
Chilodontidae

More from the family Chilodontidae

Flag-tailed characin (Caenotropus labyrinthicus) — Chilodontidae
Flag-tailed characin
Caenotropus labyrinthicus
Chilodontidae
 Spotted flag-headstander (Caenotropus maculosus) — Chilodontidae
Spotted flag-headstander
Caenotropus maculosus
Chilodontidae
 Spotted headstander (Chilodus zunevei) — Chilodontidae
Spotted headstander (Chilodus zunevei)
Chilodontidae
Fin

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