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Pepper kuhli (Pangio piperata) — Cobitidae

Pepper kuhli

Pangio piperata
Family: Cobitidae

The Pepper kuhli (Pangio piperata) is a freshwater fish of the family Cobitidae that grows up to 5 cm.

Length
5.2 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Carnivore
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Indonesia, Malaysia

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Description

The Pepper kuhli is a kuhli loach (Cobitidae) from fresh water of Borneo in Southeast Asia. The species grows to about 8 cm and has a very slender, eel-like, brown-yellow body with dark crossbars, barbels and a small erectable spine below the eye. As a nocturnal bottom-dweller it wriggles among leaf litter, roots and sand of quiet forest streams and snaps at small invertebrates and organic matter. The fish is harmless to humans and is popular in the aquarium trade.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Pepper kuhli?

The Pepper kuhli has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly yellow-gold and shows a vertical stripes pattern.

Where does the Pepper kuhli live?

The Pepper kuhli lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Asia: Indonesia, Malaysia

How big does the Pepper kuhli get?

The Pepper kuhli grows to a maximum of about 5 cm.

Is the Pepper kuhli dangerous to humans?

No, the Pepper kuhli is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

More photos

Pepper kuhli (Pangio piperata) — Cobitidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Jiayuan Lin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Pepper kuhli (Pangio piperata) — Cobitidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Margie Surahman, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Pepper kuhli (Pangio piperata) — Cobitidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Jiayuan Lin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Pepper kuhli (Pangio piperata) — Cobitidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Zakqary Roy, some rights reserved (CC BY))

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All data

Identification

English name
Pepper kuhli sourced
Scientific name
Pangio piperata
Family
Cobitidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
5.2 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Yellow / gold sourced
Pattern
Vertical bars sourced
Tail shape
Rounded
Barbels
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Natural range
Asia: Indonesia, Malaysia sourced
Origin
Native

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore
Diet (detail)
Small fishes, crustaceans and invertebrates
Territorial
No
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes
Sexual dimorphism
No
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known.

For anglers

Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish.
Regulations source

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Pangio

More from the family Cobitidae

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