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Meta pencil catfish (Ituglanis metae) — Trichomycteridae

Meta pencil catfish

Ituglanis metae

The Meta pencil catfish (Ituglanis metae) is a freshwater fish of the family Trichomycteridae that grows up to 8 cm.

Length
7.8 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Carnivore
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Meta pencil catfish is a pencil catfish (Trichomycteridae) from clear streams and rivers of the Orinoco basin in South America. The species grows to about 8 cm and has a slender, almost scaleless, yellow-brown body with barbels and small eyes. As a nocturnal bottom-dweller it creeps and wriggles among gravel, sand and leaf litter and snaps at insect larvae and small invertebrates. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Meta pencil catfish?

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

Where does the Meta pencil catfish live?

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

How big does the Meta pencil catfish get?

The Meta pencil catfish grows to a maximum of about 8 cm.

Is the Meta pencil catfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Meta pencil catfish is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Meta-penmeerval sourced
English name
Meta pencil catfish sourced
Scientific name
Ituglanis metae
Family
Trichomycteridae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
7.8 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Barbels
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

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

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
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 Ituglanis

More from the family Trichomycteridae

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