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Freshwater sleeper (Odontobutis potamophila) — Odontobutidae

Freshwater sleeper

Odontobutis potamophila
Family: Odontobutidae
DD · Data Deficient

The Freshwater sleeper (Odontobutis potamophila) is a freshwater fish of the family Odontobutidae that grows up to 15 cm.

Length
15.2 cm
Water
Freshwater
Depth
0–? m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The Chinese freshwater sleeper is a sleeper from fresh water in China and Vietnam. The species grows to about 15 cm and has a stocky, dark mottled body with a large mouth and two separate dorsal fins. As a bottom-dweller it often lies motionless on the bottom and is an ambush hunter that lurks for small fish and invertebrates. The fish is harmless to humans. Owing to insufficient data the IUCN lists the species as Data Deficient (DD).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Freshwater sleeper?

The Freshwater sleeper has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a marbled pattern.

Where does the Freshwater sleeper live?

The Freshwater sleeper lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Freshwater sleeper get?

The Freshwater sleeper grows to a maximum of about 15 cm.

Is the Freshwater sleeper dangerous to humans?

No, the Freshwater sleeper is harmless to humans.

Is the Freshwater sleeper edible?

The Freshwater sleeper is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Chinese slaapgrondel verified
English name
Freshwater sleeper verified
Scientific name
Odontobutis potamophila
Family
Odontobutidae

Appearance

Max length (cm)
15.2 sourced
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Marbled sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thick / fleshy sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
0 sourced
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
Yes inferred
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Odontobutis

More from the family Odontobutidae

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