Peppered Cory

Fascinating facts about the Peppered Cory

• At 5.9–7 cm long, the blue leopard corydoras carries a full set of armored plates.
• Charles Darwin first saw this catfish in Buenos Aires in the 1830s.
• When stressed, the fish snaps its pectoral fins apart to make a click, a sound both males and juveniles use.
• Males sport longer dorsal and pectoral fins than females, a subtle size cue that helps them attract mates without fighting.
• Living in the lower Paraná River basin across Paraguay, Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay, the species is also found in coastal rivers in Brazil and Uruguay.

At a glance

About the Peppered Cory

The blue leopard corydoras, Hoplisoma paleatum, is a modestly sized armored catfish, typically measuring between 5.9 and 7 centimeters in standard length. The dorsal and pectoral fins of the male are slightly longer than those of the female. It is native to the lower Paraná River basin in Paraguay, Argentina, Brazil, and the coastal rivers of Brazil and Uruguay. In the wild, H. paleatum feeds on worms, crustaceans, insects, and plant matter. It can produce sound by rapidly abducting its pectoral fins, a vocalization used by males during courtship and by both sexes and juveniles when distressed. Males are not aggressive toward each other during reproduction, and the species uses the T-position courtship display. The fish is a common choice for community aquariums because it is relatively hardy and peaceful.

More fish to discover

Browse Feravox