Megalodoras uranoscopus (Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1888)
Image contributors to this species:
Danny Blundell (5)  Chris Ralph  (4) Matt Bennallack (1) BigFrogFeet (3) Graham Layley (1) Iain Briggs (1)
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Relevant Information:	Occurs in small groups and occasionally forms schools. Inhabits rivers. Is mainly diurnal. Feeds on the fruits of Licania longipetala and Astrocaryum jauary. Also feeds on pulmonate snails. 15-18 lateral scutes that increase in size towards the caudal fin. There are many caudal fulcra or bony plates. There are no plates above or below the caudal peduncle. The adipose is described as continuing forward in the form of a hard keel. This catfish has two pairs of barbels, one pair maxillary and one pair mandibular. Despite the size that it can attain it is really a "Gentle Giant" and can be kept with other large or medium sized fish. They are not commonly available, if you have the space for one or more as they do tend to like their own company, they are well worth obtaining.
Common Name:	Mother of Snails Catfish, Giant Raphael Catfish
Synonyms:	Doras uranoscopus, Hoplodoras uranoscopus, Megalodoras laevigatulus, Doras laevigatulus, D.libertatis,Pseudodoras huberi, Oxydoras huberi, Megalodoras libertatis, Megalodoras irwini
Family:	Doradidae
Distribution:	South America: Amazon, Tocantins and Essequibo River basins. Type locality: Lake Hyanuary (Brazil).
Size:	61cm. (24ins)
Temp:	22-26°C (71-79°F)
p.H.	6.5-7.5.
Reference:	ScotCat Factsheet no 066: Dec.2001. Lopez, H.L., R.C. Menni and A.M. Miguelarena 1987 Lista de los peces de agua dulce de la Argentina. Biologia Acuatica No. 12, 50 p. (Instituto de Limnologia "Dr. Raul A. Ringuelet"). Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2009.FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version (12/2009).