Calophysus macropterus • Pimelodidae • Cat-eLog

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Calophysus macropterus** (Lichtenstein, 1819)
Common Name(s)	Bagre machete (Spanish, Venezuelan), Mapurite (Orinoquia, Venezuelan), Pintadinho (Portuguese, Brazilian), Piracatinga (Portuguese, Brazilian), Vulture Catfish, Zamurito (Orinoquia, Venezuelan)
Type Locality	Brazil.
Synonym(s)	Pimeletropsis lateralis, Pimelodus ctenodus, Pimelodus macropterus
Pronunciation	mack row terr uss
Species Information
Size	500mm (19.7") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Body somewhat elongate and head broad. Eyes superior. Barbels flattened with maxillary pair extending past the end of the adipose fin. First dorsal and pectoral fin rays are 'soft'. Number of spots on the body varies greatly between populations.
General Remarks	This fish has at times been placed in its own family, the Calophysidae. Although it externally looks much like other pimelodids its unique dentition, different positioning of the fins from other pimelodids, and reduced and encased swim bladder make it a distant relative of the other pimelodids.
Habitat Information
Distribution	Common in shallow waters in the Amazon near riverbanks where it is often seen in concentrations near human populations scavenging food amongst human offal. Amazon (click on these areas to find other species found there) (Click the map-icon to show/hide map of species distribution)
pH	6.0 - 7.4
Temperature	24.0-29.0°C or 75.2-84.2°F (Show others within this range)
Husbandry Information
Feeding	An adaptable carnivore as the common name, 'vulture catfish' applies.
Furniture	Comfortable in almost any environment, including sturdy planted aquaria, provided it has sufficient hiding places.
Compatibility	A true scavenger that is also a vicious predator. Its unique dentition allows it to bite other fishes and remove chunks of flesh. Often attacks the catch of fishermen while they are hooked or netted. This ability has given the name bagre matchete (machete catfish) in Venezuela and Colombia. They are so vicious in their attacks that they sometimes stay attached even when their prey is removed from the water. Tankmates should be chosen with great care. While it appears this fish mainly attacks wounded fishes, it certainly has the ability to rip any tankmate to shreds should it desire to do so.
Suggested Tankmates	Armored loricariids and doradids, larger fish such as cichlids.
Breeding	Unreported.
Further Information
References	Zool. Mag. (Wiedemann)1819, v. 1 (pt 3) - pp59 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. Ros, Wolfgang and Schmidt, Jakob (2008): Calophysus macropterus: Ein "Hai" im Süßwasseraquarium: D. Aqu. u. Terr. Z. (Datz) 61 (4): 16-18.
Registered Keepers	(1) CFC, (2) tezr, (3) Redtailrob (p: 2, k: 2), (4) DazSH (p: 2), (5) mustang93svt, (6) zigster (p: 2), (7) arapaimag (k: 2), (8) Decker504, (9) TimWheatley, who also notes: "Haven't seen any aggression whatsoever. Has been kept with: Severum (large and small), Pictus catfish, Bristlenosed Pleco, Synodontis catfish, Ornate Pim catfish.", (10) minipol (k: 3). Click on a username above to see all that persons registered catfish species. You can also view all "my cats" data for this species.
Breeding Reports	None.
Articles	- CotM 2006 May - Shane's World Species Calophysus macropterus, A "shark" in the freshwater aquarium
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Last Update	2008 Apr 16 15:16 (species record created: 2001 Apr 22 00:00)

Cat-eLog Data Sheet

Calophysus macropterus (Lichtenstein, 1819)

Bagre machete (Spanish, Venezuelan), Mapurite (Orinoquia, Venezuelan), Pintadinho (Portuguese, Brazilian), Piracatinga (Portuguese, Brazilian), Vulture Catfish, Zamurito (Orinoquia, Venezuelan)

Type Locality

Brazil.

Synonym(s)

Pimeletropsis lateralis, Pimelodus ctenodus, Pimelodus macropterus

Pronunciation

mack row terr uss

Species Information

Size

500mm (19.7") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.

Identification

Body somewhat elongate and head broad. Eyes superior. Barbels flattened with maxillary pair extending past the end of the adipose fin. First dorsal and pectoral fin rays are 'soft'. Number of spots on the body varies greatly between populations.

General Remarks

This fish has at times been placed in its own family, the Calophysidae. Although it externally looks much like other pimelodids its unique dentition, different positioning of the fins from other pimelodids, and reduced and encased swim bladder make it a distant relative of the other pimelodids.

Habitat Information

Distribution

Common in shallow waters in the Amazon near riverbanks where it is often seen in concentrations near human populations scavenging food amongst human offal.
Amazon (click on these areas to find other species found there)

(Click the map-icon to show/hide map of species distribution)

6.0 - 7.4

Temperature

24.0-29.0°C or 75.2-84.2°F (Show others within this range)

Husbandry Information

Feeding

An adaptable carnivore as the common name, 'vulture catfish' applies.

Furniture

Comfortable in almost any environment, including sturdy planted aquaria, provided it has sufficient hiding places.

Compatibility

A true scavenger that is also a vicious predator. Its unique dentition allows it to bite other fishes and remove chunks of flesh. Often attacks the catch of fishermen while they are hooked or netted. This ability has given the name bagre matchete (machete catfish) in Venezuela and Colombia. They are so vicious in their attacks that they sometimes stay attached even when their prey is removed from the water.

Tankmates should be chosen with great care. While it appears this fish mainly attacks wounded fishes, it certainly has the ability to rip any tankmate to shreds should it desire to do so.

Suggested Tankmates

Armored loricariids and doradids, larger fish such as cichlids.

Breeding

Unreported.

Further Information

References

Zool. Mag. (Wiedemann)1819, v. 1 (pt 3) - pp59
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. Ros, Wolfgang and Schmidt, Jakob (2008): Calophysus macropterus: Ein "Hai" im Süßwasseraquarium: D. Aqu. u. Terr. Z. (Datz) 61 (4): 16-18.

Registered Keepers

(1) CFC, (2) tezr, (3) Redtailrob (p: 2, k: 2), (4) DazSH (p: 2), (5) mustang93svt, (6) zigster (p: 2), (7) arapaimag (k: 2), (8) Decker504, (9) TimWheatley, who also notes: "Haven't seen any aggression whatsoever. Has been kept with: Severum (large and small), Pictus catfish, Bristlenosed Pleco, Synodontis catfish, Ornate Pim catfish.", (10) minipol (k: 3).

Click on a username above to see all that persons registered catfish species. You can also view all "my cats" data for this species.

Breeding Reports

None.

Articles