Brachyplatystoma vaillantii

Brachyplatystoma vaillantii, the Laulao catfish or piramuta, is a species of catfish of the family Pimelodidae that is native to Amazon and Orinoco River basins and major rivers of the Guianas and northeastern Brazil.[1][2]

Brachyplatystoma vaillantii
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Pimelodidae
Genus: Brachyplatystoma
Species:
B. vaillantii
Binomial name
Brachyplatystoma vaillantii
(Valenciennes, 1840)
Synonyms
  • Bagrus piramuta
  • Bagrus reticulatus
  • Brachyplatystoma parnahybae
  • Piramutana piramuta
  • Platystoma vaillantii

Distribution

It is a much widespread species that is found rivers and estuaries of Amazon and Orinoco watersheds, Guianas and northeastern Brazil.[2]

Description

It grows to a length of 150 cm.[1] Dorsum dark to light grey or brown, no spots or stripes. Ventrum much paler to give striking counter shading.[3]

It is entirely piscivorous preying on loricariids and other bottom-dwelling fish.[3]

Ecology

It is found in both freshwater and brackish water systems. It is a demersal potamodromous fish commonly inhabits muddy waters and deeper, flowing channels. Juveniles and sub adults are migratory.[2]

References
  1. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2020). "Brachyplatystoma vaillantii" in FishBase. June 2020 version.
  2. "Cat-eLog - Pimelodidae - Brachyplatystoma vaillantii". Planet Catfish. Retrieved 2020-06-02.
  3. "Brachyplatystoma aillantii (VALENCIENNES, 1840) - Piramuta". Seriously Fish. Retrieved 2020-06-02.
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