Home · Loricariidae · Whiptail catfish
Whiptail catfish (Dasyloricaria filamentosa) — Loricariidae

Whiptail catfish

Dasyloricaria filamentosa
Family: Loricariidae

The Whiptail catfish (Dasyloricaria filamentosa) is a freshwater fish of the family Loricariidae that grows up to 32 cm.

Length
32.2 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Herbivore
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The whiptail catfish is an armoured catfish (Loricariidae) from fresh water of the Magdalena and Sinu basins in Colombia. The species grows to about 32 cm and has a very slender, bony-plated, yellow-brown body, a broad sucker mouth and a strongly elongate, thread-like tail stalk. As a bottom-dweller it lives on sand and mud bottoms of rivers and rasps algae and growth. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Whiptail catfish?

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

Where does the Whiptail catfish live?

The Whiptail catfish lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Whiptail catfish get?

The Whiptail catfish grows to a maximum of about 32 cm.

Is the Whiptail catfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Whiptail catfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Whiptail catfish edible?

Yes, the Whiptail catfish is commonly 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
Draadstaart-harnasmeerval sourced
English name
Whiptail catfish sourced
Scientific name
Dasyloricaria filamentosa
Family
Loricariidae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
32.2 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) sourced

Habitat & distribution

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

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
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

More from the family Loricariidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

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

Get the beta →