Stats

Lifespan

5-12 yrs

Size

Small

Diet

Herbivore

Activity

Nocturnal

Social

Solitary

Biome

Freshwater river

Range

South America

Movement

Swimming

Breeding

Egg-laying

Defense

Armor

Status

Rare

About

This nocturnal catfish dwells in the fast-flowing freshwater streams of Panama. Males grow fleshy, branching tentacles on their snouts to mimic larvae and attract mates.

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

Loricariidae

Genus

Ancistrus