Home · Serrasalmidae · Spotted silver dollar
Spotted silver dollar (Metynnis lippincottianus) — Serrasalmidae

Spotted silver dollar

Metynnis lippincottianus
Family: Serrasalmidae

The Spotted silver dollar (Metynnis lippincottianus) is a freshwater fish of the family Serrasalmidae that grows up to 16 cm.

Length
16.4 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Herbivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The Spotted silver dollar is a silver dollar, a deep-bodied characin (Serrasalmidae) from fresh water of the Amazon and Guiana region in South America. The species grows to about 16 cm and has a deep, round, strongly compressed, bright-silvery body, like a coin. Unlike piranhas it is mainly a plant-eater and grazes water plants and algae in schools. The fish is harmless to humans and is popular in the aquarium trade.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Spotted silver dollar?

The Spotted silver dollar has a flattened, disc-shaped body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Spotted silver dollar live?

The Spotted silver dollar lives in fresh water and is mostly found around open water.

How big does the Spotted silver dollar get?

The Spotted silver dollar grows to a maximum of about 16 cm.

Is the Spotted silver dollar dangerous to humans?

No, the Spotted silver dollar is harmless to humans.

Is the Spotted silver dollar edible?

Yes, the Spotted silver dollar 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
Gevlekte zilverdollar sourced
English name
Spotted silver dollar sourced
Scientific name
Metynnis lippincottianus
Family
Serrasalmidae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
16.4 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Vissen met plantaardig aas of deegaas op een bodem- of dobbermontage. 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 Metynnis

More from the family Serrasalmidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

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

Get the beta →