SCOTCAT.COM  

Johnny Jensen's Photographic Library (1) Frants Lehmann (2 Stamps) Jean-Francois Helias (1) Peru Aquarium Group (1) Liam Irons-Mclean (4) Allan James (2)

Now found in Thailand, Asia, where this large South American Pim has now been introduced to large ponds and fishing lakes for sport fishing along with other similar sized members of the Pimelodidae family such as Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum, Sorubimichthys planiceps and the Red Tail Catfish Phractocephalus hemiolopterus. 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. orinocoensen, P. metaense, and P. magdaleniatum. So far P. punctifer is the only species that has not been accepted in some publications in print and on the internet. Two species (P. punctifer ? and P. tigrinum) are sympatric in the Amazon Basin, two (P. metaense and 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. 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 corruscans: Apparent misspelling of coruscans (L.), flaming or flashing or glittering, probably referring to bright colouration, yellow-orange above and silver below.

Spotted shovelnose

Sorubim caparary, Platystoma corruscans, Platystoma coruscans, Silurus macrocephalus

Pimelodidae

South America: Sao Francisco and Paraná River basins. Type locality: In flumine S. Francisci, Brazil.

150.0cm. (5ft 4ins)

22-26°C (71-77°F)

6.0-7.0.

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.
Salvador, G.N. 2023. Pseudoplatystoma corruscans. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2023.
The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database © Christopher Scharpf.