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Glass characin (Saccoderma hastata) — Characidae

Glass characin

Saccoderma hastata
Family: Characidae

The Glass characin (Saccoderma hastata) is a freshwater fish of the family Characidae that grows up to 4 cm.

Length
4 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The glass characin is a small South American characin (Characidae) from fresh water of northern South America, including the Magdalena basin. The species grows to about 5 cm and has a slender, strongly translucent, silvery body with a shiny longitudinal band. As a schooling fish it swims in clear streams and rivers and snaps at small zooplankton and insect larvae. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Glass characin?

The Glass characin has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Glass characin live?

The Glass characin lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom.

How big does the Glass characin get?

The Glass characin grows to a maximum of about 4 cm.

Is the Glass characin dangerous to humans?

No, the Glass characin is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Glaszalmpje van Magdalena sourced
English name
Glass characin sourced
Scientific name
Saccoderma hastata
Family
Characidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
4.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) 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

More from the family Characidae

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