Species learning profile
Freshwater angelfish
Pterophyllum scalare
Freshwater angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) is a freshwater fish associated with river habitat in South America. Its tall triangular body slips between flooded roots and plants.
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Já apareceu no Fishdle
At a glance
- Água
- Água doce
- Habitat
- Rio
- Comprimento máximo
- 15 cm
- Distribuição
- América do Sul
- Família
- Cichlidae
- Ordem
- Cichliformes
Observe
How to identify Freshwater angelfish
- Its tall triangular body slips between flooded roots and plants.
- Guide context: river habitat in South America.
- Reported maximum length: 15 cm — roughly ruler-length. Maximum is not the same as typical adult size.
Field note: color, size, and markings can change with age, sex, season, depth, and lighting. Use several traits together.
Place and pattern
Where it lives—and how it behaves
Habitat and range
This species is associated with river habitat across South America. Flow, seasonal floods, connected side channels, and access to spawning reaches all shape its river habitat.
Behavior
Forms pairs that guard eggs
Food-web connections
What it eats and why it matters
Diet
Small invertebrates and fish fry.
Ecological role
A mid-level predator in slow tropical waterways.
Remember
One fact worth keeping
Freshwater angelfish pode chegar a cerca de 15 cm e costuma viver perto de Rio.
Think like a conservationist
A conservation lens
River fish depend on connected water. Dams, blocked migrations, pollution, and altered flow can matter even when the channel still looks wet.
This habitat lens is not a current population-status assessment. Status can differ among regions and change as new assessments are published; follow the reference links and local fisheries or wildlife agencies for current decisions.
Recall
Quick knowledge check
Which habitat is most closely associated with Freshwater angelfish in this guide?
Keep exploring
References and further reading
Fishdle summarizes stable identification and ecology concepts in plain language. Taxonomy and population knowledge continue to change, so use primary assessments and regional authorities for conservation or management decisions.
Make connections