PlanetCatfish.com - Calophysus macropterus (Pimelodidae) Cat-eLog

Juvenile
Juvenile
Close-up of head
Juvenile
Rio Sucundurí
Close-up of head
Close-up of mouth
Adult
Rio Nhamundá, Brazil

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Calophysus macropterus** (Lichtenstein, 1819)
Common Names	Vulture Catfish Bagre Machete (Venezuelan), Gribbemalle (Denmark), Mapurite (Venezuelan), Pintadinho (Brazilian), Piracatinga (Brazilian), Pirate Catfish, Zamurito (Venezuelan)
Type Locality	Brazil.
Synonym(s)	Pimeletropis lateralis, Pimeletropsis lateralis, Pimelodes macropterus, Pimelodus ctenodus, Pimelodus macropterus
Pronunciation	mack row terr uss
Articles	- CotM 2006 May - Shane's World Species Calophysus macropterus, A "shark" in the freshwater aquarium
Species Information
Size	400mm or 15.7" 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	South America: Amazon and Orinoco River basins. Amazon (click on these areas to find other species found there) Amazon, Middle Amazon (Solimoes), Purus, Caeté (Acre) (click on these areas to find other species found there) Amazon, Lower Amazon, Nhamundá (click on these areas to find other species found there) Amazon, Middle Amazon (Solimoes), Madeira, Canumã, Sucundurí (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Least Concern , range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2020.
pH	6.0 - 7.4
Temperature	24.0-29.0°C or 75.2-84.2°F (Show species within this range)
Husbandry Information
Feeding	An adaptable carnivore as the common name, 'vulture catfish' applies. User data.
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.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Zoologisches Magazin (Wiedemann) 1819, v. 1 (pt 3), pp 59.
Registered Keepers	There are 25 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There are 2 wishes to keep this species, see who wants what.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 11 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.15.118.336
Last Update	2025 Jan 02 01:36 (species record created: 2001 Apr 22 00:00)