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Steindachner's minnow (Raiamas steindachneri) — Cyprinidae

Steindachner's minnow

Raiamas steindachneri
Family: Cyprinidae
LC · Least Concern

The Steindachner's minnow (Raiamas steindachneri) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae that grows up to 13 cm.

Length
12.5 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

Steindachner's minnow is a small African cyprinid from West Africa. The species grows to about 12.5 cm and has a slender, streamlined, silvery body with a large mouth, built for fast swimming, and often a row of dark blotches on the flank. It lives in schools in open, flowing water of rivers and creeks. As a small predator it hunts insects, small invertebrates and small fishes in the upper water layers. With its fast swimming style it hunts actively in open water. As a small fish it is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Steindachner's minnow?

The Steindachner's minnow has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Steindachner's minnow live?

The Steindachner's minnow lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Steindachner's minnow get?

The Steindachner's minnow grows to a maximum of about 13 cm.

Is the Steindachner's minnow dangerous to humans?

No, the Steindachner's minnow is harmless to humans.

Is the Steindachner's minnow edible?

The Steindachner's minnow is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Steindachners roofkarper sourced
English name
Steindachner's minnow sourced
Scientific name
Raiamas steindachneri
Family
Cyprinidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
12.5 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Spots inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Schooling inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
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 sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Raiamas

More from the family Cyprinidae

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