Acanthopoma annectens facts for kids

Acanthopoma annectens is a unique type of catfish. It belongs to a group of fish called Siluriformes. This fish is the only known species in its genus called Acanthopoma. It can grow to be about 12 centimetres (4.7 inch) long. This measurement is called "standard length" (SL), which means it's measured from the tip of its nose to the base of its tail.

About the Acanthopoma annectens

This interesting fish comes from the Amazon River in South America. You can find it in the upper and middle parts of this huge river system.

How Does It Feed?

The Acanthopoma annectens has a very special way of finding food. It is a parasite. This means it attaches itself to other fish, much like a leech might. It uses special spines near its gills to hold on tightly to its host fish. Once attached, it feeds on the host fish. It can be quite tricky to remove once it has latched on.

What if it Attaches to Other Animals?

While this fish usually attaches to other fish, it might sometimes accidentally attach to larger animals that are wading or swimming in the water. However, if it attaches to an animal that is not a fish, it usually doesn't survive for long. This is because it needs to be in water with enough oxygen to breathe properly, and it quickly runs out of oxygen in other environments.

See also

In Spanish: Acanthopoma annectens para niños