Brachyplatystoma filamentosum
Brachyplatystoma filamentosum | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Siluriformes |
Family: | Pimelodidae |
Genus: | Brachyplatystoma |
Species: | B. filamentosum
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Binomial name | |
Brachyplatystoma filamentosum (Lichtenstein, 1819)
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Synonyms | |
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Brachyplatystoma filamentosum, commonly called piraíba, kumakuma, valentón or lau lau, is a species of catfish of the family Pimelodidae and genus Brachyplatystoma that is native to Amazon and Orinoco River basins and rivers in Guianas and northeastern Brazil.[1][2]
Distribution
[edit]The species is found in rivers and estuaries of Amazon and Orinoco watersheds, Guianas and northeastern Brazil.[2]
Description
[edit]It grows to a length of 2.8 m.[1] The largest Amazon piraíba are 2 – 2.5 m long and weigh more than 150 kg 330lbs[citation needed] Juveniles exhibit dark body spots or blotches.[3]
It is entirely piscivorous preying on loricariids and other bottom-dwelling fish.[3]
Ecology
[edit]Brachyplatystoma filamentosum is found in both freshwater and brackish water systems. The species is a demersal potamodromous fish that commonly inhabits deeper, flowing channels with soft bottoms.[2]
Uses
[edit]As a large fish, piraíba are considered to be game fish and commercial fish. They are generally obligate piscivores; however, stomach contents have been found to include parts of monkeys.[4]
Piraíba are sometimes kept in aquaria, although the adults need a very large tank to accommodate their swimming.[5]
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References
[edit]- ^ a b Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2020). "Brachyplatystoma filamentosum" in FishBase. June 2020 version.
- ^ a b c "Cat-eLog - Pimelodidae - Brachyplatystoma vaillantii". Planet Catfish. Retrieved 2020-06-02.
- ^ a b "Brachyplatystoma ilamentosum (LICHTENSTEIN, 1819) - Piraíba". Seriously Fish. Retrieved 2020-06-02.
- ^ "Kumakuma (Brachyplatystoma filamentosum) Ecological Risk Screening Summary" (PDF). fws.gov. Retrieved 2020-06-02.
- ^ Jarikov, Viktor. "True piraiba aka Brachyplatystoma filamentosum". monsterfishkeepers.com. MonsterFishKeepers. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
- Brachyplatystoma
- Fish of the Amazon basin
- Fish of Bolivia
- Catfish of Brazil
- Freshwater fish of Colombia
- Freshwater fish of Ecuador
- Fish of French Guiana
- Fish of Guyana
- Freshwater fish of Peru
- Fish of Suriname
- Freshwater fish of Venezuela
- Taxa named by Hinrich Lichtenstein
- Fish described in 1819
- Pimelodidae stubs