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Enrico Richter (3) Mark Goh (1) Pier Aquatics (1)

Description: Brachyplatystoma capapretum is characterised by the following features of which the first three are unique among the Pimelodidae and the last is unique among the Brachyplatystomatini. 1. Jaw teeth dimorphic with mostly fine, densely spaced outer teeth and relatively few (three to six) inner rows of slender, straight, inwardly depressible teeth. 2. Juveniles (less than 200 mm SL, but some as large as 300 mm SL) marked by bold, large(twice or more times eye diameter) dark brown or gray spots centered above lateral line; ground color in preservative tan to medium brown. 3. Adults and juveniles (more than ca. 200 mm SL) black to very dark gray or brown dorsally and abruptly countershaded along a horizontal from snout tip to caudal-fin base, especially along posterior half of body just above or at lateral line; ventrally plain white to dusky cream; most specimens with light patch anterior to upper lobe of caudal fin. 4. Caudal fin of adults moderately to shallowly forked, lobes broad and nearly equal. Habitat: Collected below 200 m asl in the Amazon mainstream and largest white and black water tributaries; trawled 10s to 100s m off shore, on mud and sand substrates. Two unique synapomorphies place B.capapretum and B. filamentosum together as sister species: juveniles with spots on and above lateral line; caudal peduncle subcircular in cross-section. Young animals show a small spot pattern on the sides and have a strongly forked caudal fin. They will get lighter with increasing size and show a purple sheen on the body. The spot pattern is somewhat less clear in adolescent animals and a metallic gloss is added. Aquarium Care: This is a predator so tankmates would need to be a good size to avoid predation. Furnish a large tank with sand, driftwood and maybe a large pipe when juvenile. An indoor pond would be a better bet.

Peru Piraíba

None

Pimelodidae

South America: Amazon River from Belém, Brazil upriver to at least Iquitos, Peru, and several large tributary rivers and lakes including Trombetas, Madeira, Negro, Manacapuru, Purus, Tefé, Juruá, Jutaí, and Içá.

58.0cm. (23ins)

23-27°C (73-81°F)

6.0-7.5.

Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2009. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version (021/2011).
Lundberg, J.G. and A. Akama 2005 Brachyplatystoma capapretum: a new species of Goliath catfish from the Amazon basin, with a reclassification of allied catfishes (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae). Copeia (3):492-516.
Richter, Enrico. 2011 Amazon Predators