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Sooty pleco (Hemiancistrus fuliginosus) — Loricariidae

Sooty pleco

Hemiancistrus fuliginosus
Family: Loricariidae

The Sooty pleco (Hemiancistrus fuliginosus) is a freshwater fish of the family Loricariidae that grows up to 16 cm.

Length
16.2 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Herbivore
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Sooty pleco is an armoured catfish (Loricariidae) from fresh water of southern Brazil. The species grows to about 20 cm and has a flattened, bony-plated, brown body and an inferior sucker mouth with which it clings to wood and stones. As a nocturnal bottom-dweller it rasps algae, biofilm and wood and searches for small invertebrates. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Sooty pleco?

The Sooty pleco has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Sooty pleco live?

The Sooty pleco lives in fresh water and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Sooty pleco get?

The Sooty pleco grows to a maximum of about 16 cm.

Is the Sooty pleco dangerous to humans?

No, the Sooty pleco is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Roetkleurige harnasmeerval sourced
English name
Sooty pleco sourced
Scientific name
Hemiancistrus fuliginosus
Family
Loricariidae

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Fishing method
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. 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 Hemiancistrus

More from the family Loricariidae

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