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La Plata curimata (Cyphocharax platanus) — Curimatidae

La Plata curimata

Cyphocharax platanus
Family: Curimatidae

The La Plata curimata (Cyphocharax platanus) is a freshwater fish of the family Curimatidae that grows up to 13 cm.

Length
13.4 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Herbivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The La Plata curimata is a toothless characin (Curimatidae) from fresh water of the Parana and La Plata basins in South America. The species grows to about 10 cm and has a stocky, silvery body with a small, toothless mouth. As a detritivore it grazes algae, mud and organic matter from the bottom of rivers, streams and floodplains. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the La Plata curimata?

The La Plata curimata has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the La Plata curimata live?

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

How big does the La Plata curimata get?

The La Plata curimata grows to a maximum of about 13 cm.

Is the La Plata curimata dangerous to humans?

No, the La Plata curimata is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
La Plata-curimata sourced
English name
La Plata curimata sourced
Scientific name
Cyphocharax platanus
Family
Curimatidae
Other names
Characin sourced

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
13.4 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

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

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Herbivore inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. 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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