SCOTCAT.COM

your internet guide to all things catfish

Brachyplatystoma filamentosum (Lichtenstein, 1819)

Image contributors to this species:

Nishant Kikani (1) Enrico Richter (3) Nathan Lujan (1)

ScotCat Sources:

Other Sources:

Relevant Information:

This is the largest catfish in the Amazon basin second only to Arapaima gigas and attaining lengths of over 3 metres but usually found smaller than this (2 metres). Habitat: Juveniles and sub adults may be found in brackish water of river mouths. Found on soft bottoms and feeds on fish. Diet: Stomach contents are said to include parts of monkeys. In parts of the Amazon, this catfish occasionally makes prey of a man (Roosevelt 1914). Captured using nets and longlines and is threatened due to over harvesting. This is not an Aquarium fish. Etymology: The specific name filamentosum: With filament-like appendages, (on the chin, in some cases) or long filaments to fins.

Common Name:

None

Synonyms:

Pimelodus filamentosus, Platystoma affine, Platystoma gigas, Sorubimichthys gigas, Piratinga pirá- aïba, Brachyplatystoma goeldii.

Family:

Pimelodidae

Distribution:

South America: Amazon and Orinoco River basins and major rivers of the Guianas and northeastern Brazil. Type locality: Brasilien.

Size:

300.0cm. (10ft)

Temp:

22-27°C (71-81°F)

p.H.

6.0-7.2.

IUCN Red List

This species is widespread in South America. The population is in decline due to overharvesting. However, this is not thought to be causing a decline significant enough to list the species as threatened or Near Threatened. Therefore, it is assessed as Least Concern (IUCN 2023).

Reference:

Burgess, W.E. 1989 An atlas of freshwater and marine catfishes. A preliminary survey of the Siluriformes. T.F.H. Publications, Inc., Neptune City, New Jersey (USA). 784 p.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2009. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version (02/2010).
Salvador, G.N. 2023. Brachyplatystoma filamentosum. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2023.

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

Brachyplatystoma filamentosum
Juvenile

Brachyplatystoma filamentosum
Juvenile colours

Brachyplatystoma filamentosum
Peru

Brachyplatystoma filamentosum

Brachyplatystoma filamentosum
Casiquiare Canal, Venezuela

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.