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Blacktail whiptail catfish (Rineloricaria nigricauda) — Loricariidae

Blacktail whiptail catfish

Rineloricaria nigricauda
Family: Loricariidae

The Blacktail whiptail catfish (Rineloricaria nigricauda) is a freshwater fish of the family Loricariidae that grows up to 7 cm.

Length
6.5 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Herbivore
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Blacktail whiptail catfish is an armoured catfish (Loricariidae) from fresh water of southern South America. The species grows to about 13 cm and has a strongly elongate, flattened body armoured with bony plates that tapers into a long, thin tail, with a sucker mouth underneath. As a bottom-dweller it clings by day to wood and stones of flowing rivers and rasps algae, biofilm and detritus by night. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Blacktail whiptail catfish?

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

Where does the Blacktail whiptail catfish live?

The Blacktail whiptail catfish lives in fresh water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Blacktail whiptail catfish get?

The Blacktail whiptail catfish grows to a maximum of about 7 cm.

Is the Blacktail whiptail catfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Blacktail whiptail catfish is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Zwartstaart-zweepstaartmeerval sourced
English name
Blacktail whiptail catfish sourced
Scientific name
Rineloricaria nigricauda
Family
Loricariidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
6.5 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom 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 Rineloricaria

More from the family Loricariidae

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