Brachyplatystoma filamentosum
| Brachyplatystoma filamentosum | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Piraiba in a fish market. Note the very long maxillary barbel | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Pimelodidae |
| Genus: | Brachyplatystoma |
| Species: | B. filamentosum |
| Binomial name | |
| Brachyplatystoma filamentosum (Lichtenstein, 1819) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
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]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Brachyplatystoma filamentosum". 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.
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