The fact that this catfish
has distinctive markings and very long maxillary barbels make
it easily identifiable. Perrunichthys perruno is sometimes
confused with Leiarius
pictus
(Sailfin pimelodid) and Leiarius marmoratus (Marble antenna
catfish). Perrunichthys perruno is a predatory fish in
its natural habitat, feeding upon any unsuspecting fish which
happen to get in the way of its relatively large cavernous mouth.
Whilst these are magnificent fish to observe they are not ideally
suited to life in captivity, unless being looked after in a large
Public Aquarium. It is suggested that the scientific name is derived
from the local name of ‘bagre perruno’ by the local
people of the Maracaibo basin (bagre is the South American name
for a catfish). I have kept a number of these catfish over the
years (Chris Ralph-factsheet no.166) and have noted that they
can fast for periods of time which can be slightly worrying when
this happens, and tends to coincide after having a particularly
heavy meal. The longest fast lasted 4 weeks.
Common
Name:
Leopard catfish
Synonyms:
None
Family:
Pimelodidaeycipitidae
Distribution:
South America:
Venezuela and Colombia from the Rio Negro system. Type
locality: Rio Negro below the mouth of the Rio Yasa,
75km south of Rosario on the west side of Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela.
