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Barebacked tetra (Moenkhausia dorsinuda) — Characidae

Barebacked tetra

Moenkhausia dorsinuda
Family: Characidae

The Barebacked tetra (Moenkhausia dorsinuda) is a freshwater fish of the family Characidae that grows up to 7 cm.

Length
7.1 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Barebacked tetra is a small characin (Characidae) from clear streams and rivers of the Amazon basin in South America. The species grows to about 5 cm and has a slender, laterally compressed, often translucent body with an adipose fin and sometimes a glossy longitudinal stripe. As a social schooling fish it swims in the middle and upper layer and snaps at small zooplankton, insect larvae and algae. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Barebacked tetra?

The Barebacked tetra has a flattened, disc-shaped body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Barebacked tetra live?

The Barebacked tetra lives in fresh water and is mostly found around open water.

How big does the Barebacked tetra get?

The Barebacked tetra grows to a maximum of about 7 cm.

Is the Barebacked tetra dangerous to humans?

No, the Barebacked tetra is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Naaktrug-zalmpje sourced
English name
Barebacked tetra sourced
Scientific name
Moenkhausia dorsinuda
Family
Characidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
7.1 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
Omnivore inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal 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

Same genus Moenkhausia

More from the family Characidae

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