Home · Curimatidae · Spotted curimatid
Spotted curimatid (Cyphocharax punctatus) — Curimatidae

Spotted curimatid

Cyphocharax punctatus
Family: Curimatidae
LC · Least Concern

The Spotted curimatid (Cyphocharax punctatus) is a freshwater fish of the family Curimatidae that grows up to 4 cm.

Length
4.3 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Herbivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The spotted curimatid is a small characiform from northeastern South America, including Guyana and the northern Amazon region. The species grows to about 4 cm and has a slender, silvery body without jaw teeth, often with a dark spot at the tail base. It forms schools and feeds as a detritivore on bottom mud, algae and organic matter. The fish is harmless to humans and is assessed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Spotted curimatid?

The Spotted curimatid has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Spotted curimatid live?

The Spotted curimatid lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom.

How big does the Spotted curimatid get?

The Spotted curimatid grows to a maximum of about 4 cm.

Is the Spotted curimatid dangerous to humans?

No, the Spotted curimatid is harmless to humans.

Is the Spotted curimatid edible?

The Spotted curimatid is not usually eaten.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Stip-curimata verified
English name
Spotted curimatid verified
Scientific name
Cyphocharax punctatus
Family
Curimatidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
4.3 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Geen doelsoort voor de hengelsport; hooguit incidentele vangst of bruikbaar als aasvisje. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Cyphocharax

More from the family Curimatidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →