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Pseudoplatystoma orinocoense Buitrago-Suárez & Burr, 2007 |
Image contributors to this species: |
Mark Henry Sabaj (1) nic0suave1 (1) |
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Relevant Information: |
Description: Vertebrae: 39 - 41. Can be differentiated by a combination of the following characters: well defined straight vertical bars along the side of body, longer than those of Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum and Pseudoplatystoma punctifer; bars connecting to, or extending to, the dorsal region and continuing onto other side of body; vertical bars of anterior region straight and extending below dorsolateral dusky area; usually no spots below lateral line, some individuals with two or three spots; 39-41 vertebrae. 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. Provide large water changes weekly. 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, orinocoense, refers to the Orinoco River, Venezuela, the drainage in which this species is endemic. Remarks: 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 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. |
Common Name: |
Orinoco Shovelnose |
Synonyms: |
None |
Family: |
Pimelodidae |
Distribution: |
South America: Orinoco River basin in Venezuela. |
Size: |
52.5cm. (21ins) |
Temp: |
24-28°C (75-83°F) |
p.H. |
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6.5-7.5. |
Reference: |
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. |
Family: Pimelodidae Back to Ident-A-Cat Click on Thumbnails |
Pseudoplatystoma orinocoense |
Pseudoplatystoma orinocoenseCano Maporal near UNELLEZ module, Apure, Venezuela |
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