/pimelodidae/brachyplatystoma/platynemum/1.jpg "Brachyplatystoma platynemum(1) - Click to enlarge")
/pimelodidae/brachyplatystoma/platynemum/2.jpg "Brachyplatystoma platynemum(2) - Click to enlarge")
/pimelodidae/brachyplatystoma/platynemum/3.jpg "Brachyplatystoma platynemum(3) - Click to enlarge")
/pimelodidae/brachyplatystoma/platynemum/4.jpg "Brachyplatystoma platynemum(4) - Click to enlarge")
/pimelodidae/brachyplatystoma/platynemum/5.jpg "Brachyplatystoma platynemum(5) - Click to enlarge")
/pimelodidae/brachyplatystoma/platynemum/6.jpg "Brachyplatystoma platynemum(6) - Click to enlarge")
/pimelodidae/brachyplatystoma/platynemum/7.jpg "Brachyplatystoma platynemum(7) - Click to enlarge")
/pimelodidae/brachyplatystoma/platynemum/8.jpg "Brachyplatystoma platynemum(8) - Click to enlarge")
 Cat-eLog Data Sheet | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Brachyplatystoma platynemum (Boulenger, 1898) |
| Common Name(s) | Baboso (Spanish, Colombian), Bagre Grabanzo (Spanish, Venezuelan), Barba Chata (Portuguese, Brazilian), Hipe (Spanish, Venezuelan), Saliboro (Spanish, Colombian), Slobbering Catfish |
| Type Locality | Pará, Brazil. |
| Synonym(s) | Brachyplatystoma platynema, Goslinea platynema, Taenionema steeri |
| Etymology | Greek, brachys, eia = short + Greek, platys = flat + Greek, stoma = mouth. This specific epithet refers to its broad(platys=broad, wide) barbels(nema=filaments, referring to barbels). |
| Species Information | |
| Size | 1170mm (46.1") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp. |
| Identification | Head compressed and elongate. Eyes reduced and located high on the head. Upper jaw surpasses lower. Barbels long, large and flattened. Coloration is gray above and lighter below with no spots on body. Specimens taken from white waters high in suspended sediment are bluish above and white-pink below. Caudal fin has long filaments on upper and lower lobes. |
| Sexing | It has been reported that the average size of males captured by commercial fisheries is 65 cm and females 75 cm. |
| General Remarks | This fish is only encountered in the deepest channels of rivers. The largest specimens reported from the Amazon are 100 cm while those from the Orinoco are reported to 117 cm. One of the most common species captured by commercial fisheries in the llanos of Colombia and Venezuela. Between May 1998 and May 1999 one ton was taken in Inirida and three tons in Puerto Carreno (Rio Orinoco). Over fishing has had a tremendous negative impact on this fish. In 1985 in the Rio Meta commercial fisheries reported 37.7 tons at an average length of 74 cm. By 1999 the catch had fallen to .8 tons with an average length of 59 cm. This represents a 98 percent decrease in 14 years! This fish is classified as ''Endangered'' and the capture of specimens smaller than 62 cm is illegal. This means that the small specimens imported for the aquarium trade are illegally acquired.
The common name is based on the thick barbels that make the fish look like it's dribbling. |
| Habitat Information | |
| Distribution | Amazon, Orinoco, Meta, Caqueta, Putumayo, Guaviare, Guayabero, and Metica basins. Amazon (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there) Orinoco  (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there)Orinoco , Middle Orinoco, Meta (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there)Amazon, Middle Amazon (Solimoes) , Japurá, Caquetá (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there)Amazon, Putumayo (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there) Orinoco , Upper Orinoco, Guaviare (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there)Orinoco , Middle Orinoco, Meta, Metica (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there)Orinoco , Upper Orinoco, Guaviare, Guayabero (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there) |
| pH | 6.6 - 7.6 |
| Temperature | 24.0-33.0°C or 75.2-91.4°F (Show others within this range) |
| Other Parameters | Known only from white waters. Not found in clear or blackwaters. |
| Husbandry Information | |
| Feeding | A carnivore that eats other fishes. Primarily large tetras of the genera Prochilodus, Anodua, and Astyanax. |
| Furniture | A massive aquarium with a sand substrate and stones and driftwood arranged to provide hiding places. |
| Compatibility | Other large fishes with similar husbandry requirements. |
| Suggested Tankmates | Large Pimelodids, Loricariids, or Doradids. |
| Breeding | Unreported. In Colombia, the fish migrate between November and January. Males are sexually mature at 65 cm and females at 78 cm. |
| Further Information | |
| References | Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (Ser. 7)v. 2 (no. 12) - pp477 Burgess W. (1989) An Atlas of Freshwater and Marine Catfishes: A prelimenary survey of the Siluriformes. TFH Romano B. (1982) Los Peces de Los Llanos II: Los Bagres. Fundacion Cientifica Fluvial de Los Llanos. Romano B. (1985) Peces de Aqua Dulce de Venezuela Vol. I. Editorial Biosfera. |
| Registered Keepers | (1) arapaima, (2) amiidae, (3) amazonfishman, (4) SuperLaz, (5) miles3, (6) Redtailrob, (7) monsters2be (k: 2). Click on a username above to see all that persons registered catfish species. You can also view all "my cats" data for this species.  Add this species to your "my cats" page. |
| Breeding Reports | None. |
| More Resources |
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| Hits | 14009 hits. |
| Last Update | 2010 Jul 01 07:04 (species record created: 2001 Aug 19 00:00) |
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