This Large South American pim
has been introduced to some fishing lakes in Thailand
as can be seen in the first thumbnail gallery image.
Robust body with quadrangular and depressed head.
Colouration: The adults are olive
green with a white belly region, with viliforme conical
teeth in the palate and the pterigoideo bone, forming
developed patches. Juveniles and sub-adults are spotted
and the adults are usually without spots. Description:
Dorsal fin rays 1-6. Specimens measuring 130 cm and
weighing 50 kg are not rare. Habitat:
In the Amazon, this fish is found quite upstream,
in the main bed of the big tributaries with muddy
bottom. Mainly piscivorous, hunts at night, sometimes
going into flood prone areas of rivers. Some migrations
in pursuit of migrating Triportheus and Anodus
have been reported. Reproduction:
Sexually mature upon reaching 10 kg weight. The nursery
ground is at the river mouths. . As this species grows
the barbels shorten in length, in relation to the
body size as the fish grows. Remarks:
Not suited to the home aquarium due to its final adult
size and its predatory instincts.
South America:
Amazon and Orinoco River basins. Introduced to fishing
lakes in Thailand. Type locality:
Tomependa, Río Marañon [Amazon River
basin, Peru].
Size:
140cm. (4ft 8ins)
Temp:
20-24°C (67-75°F)
p.H.
6.0-7.5.
Reference:
Froese, R. and D. Pauly.
Editors. 2009. FishBase.World Wide Web electronic
publication.www.fishbase.org, version (09/2010). Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist
of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes),
and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa
1418:1-628. Conservación Internacional;
seris de Guías Tropicales De Campo. Pecos del
medio Amazonas Región de Leticia. 546 p. Grant, S. 1999 (29 Dec.) [ref. 24295]
Pseudopimelodus, Bleeker, 1858 & some related
genera (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae). Catfish Compendium:
44-58.
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