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Enrico Richter (1) Julio Endler (3) Karsten Schönherr (2) Mark Henry Sabaj (1) Erling Holm (1)

Description: These are streamlined catfishes of modest size with adult lengths ranging among species from ca. 10-30 cm SL. Their clear to hyaline fins are gracefully shaped and often filamentous, with flexible fin spines in the dorsal and pectoral fins, and an expansive adipose fin. Habitat: The pimelodid catfish genus Megalonema has an ample distribution in South America throughout the Paraná, Amazon, Essequibo, Orinoco, Maracaibo and Magdalena basins. The species of Megalonema inhabit medium to large rivers mostly in flowing marginal reaches and over fine substrates of mud or sand. Colouration: In colour Megalonema are mostly plain yellowish to tan and generally without prominent marks except for the common presence of an embedded dark spot in the base of the upper caudal-fin lobe, and sometimes also the lower lobe. Aquarium Care: This is the largest species of this genera so provide a tank of at least 4ft x 2ft x 2ft with a medium water flow and weekly water changes. Diet: When this species was caught on hook and line it was found to have beetle larvae, fish scales and catfish spines in its stomach contents. In the aquaria it will accept sinking pellets and most types of worms and shelfish. Etymology: The specific name platycephalum: Flat-headed, from platýs, flat, and kephal, head, referring to flattened head between the eyes. Remarks: For more information on this species and genera read the paper by Lundberg, J.G. and W.M. Dahdul, 2008 and the catfish book by Steven Grant (2021) on Pims which are referenced below.

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Pimelodidae

South America: Amazon, Essequibo, and Orinoco River basins. Type locality: Tumatumari, British Guiana.

30.0cm. (12ins)

22-27°C (71-81°F)

6.0-7.2.

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.
Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628.
Grant, Steven. Pims. Pimelodidae, Heptapteridae and Pseudopimelodidae Catfishes. ATS-Aquashop.de 2021 219p.
Lundberg, G. John; Dahdul, M. Wasila; 2008. Two new cis-Andean species of the South American catfish genus Megalonema allied to trans-Andean Megalonema xanthum, with description of a new subgenus (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae). Neotrop. ichthyol. vol.6 no.3 Porto Alegre 2008.
Salvador, G.N. 2023. Megalonema platycephalum. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2023.
The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database © Christopher Scharpf.