Lives on the bottom and feeds on mollusks, crustaceans, and organic debris. Frequently occurs on sandy bottoms. Often escapes into the sediment where it hides among the anfractuosities of the submerged stocks (Ref. 35381). A juvenile in a stream of the rio Araguaia was recorded to clean the piscivorous characin Hoplias cf. malabaricus (Ref. 50806).

South America: Amazon, Tocantins, Parnaíba, Orinoco, Essequibo River basins and coastal drainages in French Guiana and Suriname (Ref. 37054). Reported from Argentina (Ref. 56308).

occurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations

United States

Origin: Exotic

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Global Range: Native to South America, from Venezuela and Guianas to Argentina (Fuller et al. 1999). Has been collected in Florida but is not known to be established there (Robins et al. 1991).

Amazon, Tocantins, Parnaíba, Orinoco and Essequibo River basins and coastal drainages in French Guiana and Suriname: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela. But perhaps only coastal drainages of Suriname

Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 6; Analsoft rays: 10 - 11

Maximum size: 220 mm TL

24.0 cm SL (male/unsexed; (Ref. 37054))

demersal; freshwater; pH range: 5.8 - 7.5; dH range: 2 - 20

Habitat Type: Freshwater

Non-Migrant: No. All populations of this species make significant seasonal migrations.

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.

Lives on the bottom and feeds on mollusks, crustaceans, and organic debris. Frequently occurs on sandy bottoms. Often escapes into the sediment where it hides among the anfractuosities of the submerged stocks (Ref. 35381). A juvenile in a stream of the rio Araguaia was recorded to clean the piscivorous characin Hoplias cf. malabaricus (Ref. 50806). The study indicated that the cleaning behavior is probably restricted to the juvenile phase. The species shifts its diet as it grows, facultative cleaner (Ref. 50806).

Raphidascaroides Infection 1. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Specimens with Barcodes: 2
Species With Barcodes: 1

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: NNA - Not Applicable

Rounded Global Status Rank: GNR - Not Yet Ranked

Not Evaluated

fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial