Stats

Lifespan: 5-10 yrs
Size: Small
Diet: Omnivore
Activity: Crepuscular
Social: School
Biome: Tropical freshwater
Range: South America
Movement: Swimming
Breeding: Egg-laying
Defense: Armor
Status: Rare

About

The cory catfish is a small, armoured freshwater fish from South American rivers, protected by two rows of overlapping bony plates instead of scales. A remarkable adaptation lets them gulp air at the surface and absorb oxygen through their intestinal lining — a lifesaver when dissolved oxygen in the water runs low.

Life cycle

1.
hatchling fry
A tiny fry hatches with a yolk sac and begins free-swimming once the sac is absorbed.
2.
juvenile
A juvenile takes on adult body shape and feeds on small prey, often in nursery waters.
3.
adult
Fully grown at adult size and coloration.

Learn more

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Callichthyidae
Genus: Osteogaster
Species: Osteogaster aenea