SCOTCAT.COM

your internet guide to all things catfish

Megalonema platanum (Günther, 1880)

Image contributors to this species:

Hitomi Torrico-Destre et al. 2024 (3)

ScotCat Sources:

Other Sources:

Relevant Information:

Habitat: Present in the Beni, Mamoré, Grande, and Iténez sub-basins (Amazon Basin). Also recorded in the Pilcomayo (Maldonado et al. 2019) and Bermejo sub-basins (La Plata Basin) (Torrico et al. 2020). Colouration: Body yellowish; dorsal head portion with pale gray colour. Nuchal plate slightly dark. Ventral region of the body yellowish. Caudal fin yellow with a small dark spot on the upper lobe, and the rest of the fins yellowish. Aquarium Care: This is the largest species of this genera so provide a tank of at least 6ft x 2ft x 2ft with a medium water flow and weekly water changes. Diet: In the aquaria it will accept sinking pellets and most types of worms and shelfish. Etymology: The specific name platanum: –anum (L.), belonging to: Río de la Plata system, Argentina, type locality. Remarks: Despite the little information available on this species, it has a wide range and no apparent threats. Therefore, it is assessed as Least Concern (IUCN 2023).

Common Name:

None

Synonyms:

Pimelodus platanus

Family:

Pimelodidae

Distribution:

South America: Paraná River basin (Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Uruguay and Paraguay). Type locality: Parana.

Size:

40.0cm. (16ins)

Temp:

22-27°C (71-81°F)

p.H.

6.0-7.2.

Reference:

Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2024. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 06/2024 ).
Grant, Steven. Pims. Pimelodidae, Heptapteridae and Pseudopimelodidae Catfishes. ATS-Aquashop.de 2021 219p.
Hitomi Torrico-Destre, Matías Careaga, Mabel Maldonado, Fernando M. Carvajal-Vallejos, Revision of the catfish family Pimelodidae (Teleostei: Siluriformes) of Bolivia, Neotropical Hydrobiology & Aquatic Conservation (2024) Vol. 5 (2).
Salvador, G.N. 2023. Megalonema platanum. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2023.

Family: Pimelodidae Back to Ident-A-Cat Click on Thumbnails

Megalonema platanum
Grande River, Grande sub-basin, Amazon Basin

Megalonema platanum
Dorsal view-Grande River, Grande sub-basin, Amazon Basin

Megalonema platanum
Ventral view-Grande River, Grande sub-basin, Amazon Basin

If you would like to contribute to the monthly factsheets with an article, information or photos, please e-mail me. You will of course be credited for your work.

If you would like to donate any denomination of monies to the site just click the above link button. All proceeds will go to running the site and hopefully to keep it going for a few years yet.