Brachyplatystoma vaillantii

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]

Brachyplatystoma vaillantii
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Pimelodidae
Genus: Brachyplatystoma
Species:
B. vaillantii
Binomial name
Brachyplatystoma vaillantii
(Valenciennes, 1840)
Synonyms
  • Bagrus piramuta
  • Bagrus reticulatus
  • Brachyplatystoma parnahybae
  • Piramutana piramuta
  • Platystoma vaillantii

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

It is a much widespread species that is found rivers and estuaries of Amazon and Orinoco watersheds, Guianas and northeastern Brazil.[2]

Description

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

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
  1. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2020). "Brachyplatystoma vaillantii" in FishBase. June 2020 version.
  2. "Cat-eLog - Pimelodidae - Brachyplatystoma vaillantii". Planet Catfish. Retrieved 2020-06-02.
  3. 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.
  4. "Brachyplatystoma aillantii (VALENCIENNES, 1840) - Piramuta". Seriously Fish. Retrieved 2020-06-02.


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