Brachyplatystoma vaillantii
| Brachyplatystoma vaillantii | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Pimelodidae |
| Genus: | Brachyplatystoma |
| Species: | B. vaillantii
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| Binomial name | |
| Brachyplatystoma vaillantii (Valenciennes, 1840)
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| Synonyms | |
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Brachyplatystoma vaillantii, the Laulao catfish or piramuta, is a species of catfish of the family Pimelodidae that is native to Amazon and Orinoco River basins and major rivers of the Guianas and northeastern Brazil.[1][2]
The fish is named in honor of François Levaillant (1753-1824) a French explorer, naturalist and zoological collector, who brought the type specimens to Europe.[3]
Distribution
[edit]It is a much widespread species that is found rivers and estuaries of Amazon and Orinoco watersheds, Guianas and northeastern Brazil.[2]
Description
[edit]It grows to a length of 150 cm.[1] Dorsum dark to light grey or brown, no spots or stripes. Ventrum much paler to give striking counter shading.[4]
It is entirely piscivorous preying on loricariids and other bottom-dwelling fish.[4]
Ecology
[edit]It is found in both freshwater and brackish water systems. It is a demersal potamodromous fish commonly inhabits muddy waters and deeper, flowing channels. Juveniles and sub adults are migratory.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2020). "Brachyplatystoma vaillantii" in FishBase. June 2020 version.
- ^ a b c "Cat-eLog - Pimelodidae - Brachyplatystoma vaillantii". Planet Catfish. Retrieved 2020-06-02.
- ^ Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara (22 September 2018). "Order SILURIFORMES: Families HEPTAPTERIDAE, PHREATOBIIDAE, PIMELODIDAE and PSEUDOPIMELODIDAE". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Brachyplatystoma aillantii (VALENCIENNES, 1840) - Piramuta". Seriously Fish. Retrieved 2020-06-02.
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