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Paraguay silver dollar (Poptella paraguayensis) — Characidae

Paraguay silver dollar

Poptella paraguayensis
Family: Characidae

The Paraguay silver dollar (Poptella paraguayensis) is a freshwater fish of the family Characidae that grows up to 10 cm.

Length
10.2 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Paraguay silver dollar is a deep-bodied characin (Characidae) from fresh water of the Paraguay and Parana basins in South America. The species grows to about 10 cm and has a deep, round, strongly compressed, silvery body, like a coin. As a schooling fish it swims in rivers and streams and eats small insects, larvae, plant material and detritus. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Paraguay silver dollar?

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

Where does the Paraguay silver dollar live?

The Paraguay silver dollar lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom.

How big does the Paraguay silver dollar get?

The Paraguay silver dollar grows to a maximum of about 10 cm.

Is the Paraguay silver dollar dangerous to humans?

No, the Paraguay silver dollar is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Paraguay-zilverdollar sourced
English name
Paraguay silver dollar sourced
Scientific name
Poptella paraguayensis
Family
Characidae

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom 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 Poptella

More from the family Characidae

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