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Warty banjo catfish (Bunocephalus verrucosus) — Aspredinidae

Warty banjo catfish

Bunocephalus verrucosus
Family: Aspredinidae

The Warty banjo catfish (Bunocephalus verrucosus) is a freshwater fish of the family Aspredinidae that grows up to 10 cm.

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

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Description

The warty banjo catfish is a banjo catfish (Aspredinidae) from fresh water of the Amazon and Orinoco basins in South America. The species grows to about 10 cm and has a flattened head with a thin tail, together vaguely banjo-shaped, and a rough, warty brown skin that blends superbly with the bottom. As a nocturnal bottom-dweller it lies hidden in leaf litter and sand by day and searches for worms and insect larvae at night. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Warty banjo catfish?

The Warty banjo catfish has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Warty banjo catfish live?

The Warty banjo catfish lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. South America: Brazil, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname

How big does the Warty banjo catfish get?

The Warty banjo catfish grows to a maximum of about 10 cm.

Is the Warty banjo catfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Warty banjo catfish 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

Warty banjo catfish (Bunocephalus verrucosus) — Aspredinidae — 2
© President and Fellows of Harvard College (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — MCZ
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All data

Identification

English name
Warty banjo catfish sourced
Scientific name
Bunocephalus verrucosus
Family
Aspredinidae
Other names
Bark catfish; Gnarled catfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
9.8 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

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

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
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 Bunocephalus

More from the family Aspredinidae

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