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Similar to Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum but Pseudoplatystoma tigrinum has more of a striped  body pattern and P. fasciatum has the stripes more in the shape of a Y. As with P. fasciatuum this is an out and out predator. There has been 5 new species described by Buitrago-Suárez, U.A. and B.M. Burr in 2007, to go alongside P. tigrinum, P. fasciatum and P. corruscans. These species are P. punctifer (Castelnau), P. reticulatum Eigenmann & Eigenmann, P. orinocoense, P. metaense, and P. magdaleniatum. So far P. punctifer is the only species that has not been accepted in some publications. Two species (P. punctifer ? and P. tigrinum) are sympatric in the Amazon Basin, two (P. metaenseand P. orinocoense) are sympatric in the Orinoco Basin, and two others, P. corruscans and P. reticulatum, are sympatric in the Paraná. Pseudoplatystoma magdaleniatum and P. fasciatum each occur as the only species of Pseudoplatystoma in their respective individual ranges. Habitat: Occurs in estuarine zones, mainly upstream of the first rapids up to the basin's headwaters. Nocturnal species which lives in the main bed of slow or fast zones, as well as in the flooded forests, particularly the juveniles., Opportunistic, piscivorous fish which may feed on crabs and shrimps. At the end of the dry season, they can migrate at the same time as their prey, then return at the end of the rainy season. Most important catfish in gill-net fisheries of Guaporé and Mamoré rivers. Aquarium Care: Its tank should have a shaded area at the back such as a large branch and plants to hide under as it is nocturnal, and also the lighting should not be too bright. Should not be kept with any fish that is smaller than itself and it also should be housed in a very large tank. The best companions would probably be large Pacu's or similar sized fish that would not be swallowed. In my opinion this wonderful looking Pim should only be kept in Public Aquariums as it can damage its large nose if kept in too confined an area, it can get jumpy too if feels its barbels on the tank sides as it turns around. It can also go of its food as well, if it is anyway disturbed. Diet: In their natural habitat they eat other fish such as characins and other catfish, they also eat freshwater crabs. In the aquarium a diet of earthworms, freshwater fish such as trout and also shrimp and prawns. You should only feed when it starts looking actively for it, as they will rest for a few days after feeding to digest their food. Etymology: The specific name tigrinum: Meaning striped like a tiger.

Tiger shovelnose catfish

Platystoma tigrinum

Pimelodidae

South America: Amazon and Orinoco River basins. Type locality: probablement originaire du Brésil.

120.0cm. (3ft 8ins)

22-26°C (71-79°F)

6.2-7.2.

Buitrago-Suárez, U.A. and B.M. Burr, 2007. Taxonomy of the catfish genus Pseudoplatystoma Bleeker (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae) with recognition of eight species. Zootaxa 1512:1-38.
Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628.
Le Bail, P.-Y., P. Keith and P. Planquette, 2000. Atlas des poissons d'eau douce de Guyane. Tome 2, Fascicule II: Siluriformes. Collection Patrimoines Naturels 43(II): 307p. Paris: Publications scientifiques du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle.
Salvador, G.N. 2023. Pseudoplatystoma tigrinum. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2023.
ScotCat Factsheet No. 36. June 1999.