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Festive curimata (Cyphocharax festivus) — Curimatidae

Festive curimata

Cyphocharax festivus
Family: Curimatidae

The Festive curimata (Cyphocharax festivus) is a freshwater fish of the family Curimatidae that grows up to 17 cm.

Length
16.7 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Herbivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The festive curimata is a toothless characin (Curimatidae) from fresh water of the Paraguay and Amazon basin in South America. The species grows to about 12 cm and has a stocky, silvery body without teeth, often with a dark tail spot, and a small mouth. As a social bottom-dweller it swims in schools through rivers and streams and eats fine detritus, algae and biofilm from the bottom. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Festive curimata?

The Festive curimata has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Festive curimata live?

The Festive curimata lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Festive curimata get?

The Festive curimata grows to a maximum of about 17 cm.

Is the Festive curimata dangerous to humans?

No, the Festive curimata is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Feestelijke karperzalm sourced
English name
Festive curimata sourced
Scientific name
Cyphocharax festivus
Family
Curimatidae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
16.7 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Herbivore inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Cyphocharax

More from the family Curimatidae

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