Home · Cetopsidae · Marbled catfish
Marbled catfish (Helogenes marmoratus) — Cetopsidae

Marbled catfish

Helogenes marmoratus
Family: Cetopsidae

The Marbled catfish (Helogenes marmoratus) is a freshwater fish of the family Cetopsidae that grows up to 8 cm.

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

Description

The marbled catfish is a small catfish (Cetopsidae) from the Amazon and Orinoco basins of South America. The species grows to about 8 cm and has an elongate, brown-marbled, scaleless body with three pairs of long barbels and a long anal fin. As a nocturnal bottom-dweller it hides by day among leaf litter and roots of slow, dark waters and searches at night for insect larvae and small invertebrates. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Marbled catfish?

The Marbled catfish has an elongate, eel-like body.

Where does the Marbled catfish live?

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

How big does the Marbled catfish get?

The Marbled catfish grows to a maximum of about 8 cm.

Is the Marbled catfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Marbled catfish is harmless to humans.

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
Gemarmerde hangmeerval sourced
English name
Marbled catfish sourced
Scientific name
Helogenes marmoratus
Family
Cetopsidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
7.9 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Barbels
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

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

Behaviour & biology

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

More from the family Cetopsidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

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

Get the beta →