Stats

Lifespan

10-15 yrs

Size

Small

Diet

Omnivore

Activity

Diurnal

Social

School

Biome

Freshwater rivers

Range

South America

Movement

Swimming

Breeding

Egg-laying

Defense

Armor

Status

Rare

About

This armored catfish dwells in the murky riverbeds of southeastern South America. It uses sensitive barbels to sift through silt and can swallow air to survive in oxygen-poor 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 →
• Watch on YouTube →

Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Actinopterygii

Order

Siluriformes

Family

Callichthyidae

Genus

Hoplisoma

Species

Hoplisoma paleatum