PlanetCatfish.com - Brachyplatystoma platynema (Pimelodidae) Cat-eLog

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Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Brachyplatystoma platynema** Boulenger, 1898
Common Names	Slobbering Catfish Baboso (Colombian), Bagre Grabanzo (Venezuelan), Barba Chata (Brazilian), Grovtrådet Spademalle (Denmark), Hipe (Venezuelan), Saliboro (Colombian), Stachelwels (Germany)
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	1000mm or 39.4" 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	South America: Amazon and Orinoco River basins. Amazon (click on these areas to find other species found there) Orinoco (click on these areas to find other species found there) Orinoco, Middle Orinoco, Meta (click on these areas to find other species found there) Amazon, Middle Amazon (Solimoes), Japurá, Caquetá (click on these areas to find other species found there) Amazon, Upper Amazon, Putumayo (click on these areas to find other species found there) Orinoco, Upper Orinoco, Guaviare (click on these areas to find other species found there) Orinoco, Middle Orinoco, Meta, Metica (click on these areas to find other species found there) Orinoco, Upper Orinoco, Guaviare, Upper Guaviare, Guayabero (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Not Evaluated
pH	6.6 - 7.6
Temperature	24.0-33.0°C or 75.2-91.4°F (Show species 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. User data.
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.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Annals and Magazine of Natural History (Series 7) v. 2 (no. 12) (art. 58), pp 477.
Registered Keepers	There are 13 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There are 4 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:1.15.161.679
Last Update	2022 Jan 16 04:15 (species record created: 2001 Aug 19 00:00)