Stats

Lifespan

10-15 yrs

Size

Medium

Diet

Omnivore

Activity

Nocturnal

Social

Solitary

Biome

Freshwater wetland

Range

South America

Movement

Swimming

Breeding

Egg-laying

Defense

Armor, Spines

Status

Rare

About

The Amazon sailfin catfish is a freshwater tropical fish that lives in the Amazon river basin. It has a distinct sail-like fin on its back, which makes it easy to spot in the water.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   hatchling fry

   A tiny fry hatches with a yolk sac and begins free-swimming once the sac is absorbed.
2. 2.
   juvenile

   A juvenile takes on adult body shape and feeds on small prey, often in nursery waters.
3. 3.
   adult

   Fully grown at adult size and coloration.

Learn more

• View on iNaturalist →

Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Actinopterygii

Order

Siluriformes

Family

Loricariidae

Genus

Pterygoplichthys

Species

Pterygoplichthys pardalis