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Chameleon whiptail catfish (Pseudohemiodon apithanos) — Loricariidae

Chameleon whiptail catfish

Pseudohemiodon apithanos
Family: Loricariidae

The Chameleon whiptail catfish (Pseudohemiodon apithanos) is a freshwater fish of the family Loricariidae that grows up to 15 cm.

Length
14.5 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Herbivore
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Chameleon whiptail catfish is an armoured catfish (Loricariidae) from rivers and streams of the upper Amazon basin in South America. The species grows to about 20 cm and has a flattened, bony-plated, brown body with an inferior sucker mouth. As a bottom-dweller it clings to stones and wood and rasps algae, biofilm and small invertebrates. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Chameleon whiptail catfish?

The Chameleon whiptail catfish has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Chameleon whiptail catfish live?

The Chameleon whiptail catfish lives in fresh water and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Chameleon whiptail catfish get?

The Chameleon whiptail catfish grows to a maximum of about 15 cm.

Is the Chameleon whiptail catfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Chameleon whiptail catfish is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Kameleon-zweepstaartmeerval sourced
English name
Chameleon whiptail catfish sourced
Scientific name
Pseudohemiodon apithanos
Family
Loricariidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
14.5 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Herbivore inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal 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 Pseudohemiodon

More from the family Loricariidae

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