This article is missing information about many things, please expand with material in Brachyplatystoma.(April 2025) |
Brachyplatystoma vaillantii | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Siluriformes |
Family: | Pimelodidae |
Genus: | Brachyplatystoma |
Species: | B. vaillantii |
Binomial name | |
Brachyplatystoma vaillantii (Valenciennes, 1840) | |
Synonyms | |
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Brachyplatystoma vaillantii, the Laulao catfish, piramutaba 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]
The fish is named in honor of François Levaillant (1753-1824) a French explorer, naturalist and zoological collector, who brought the type specimens to Europe. [3]
It grows to a length of 150 centimetres (59 in), though is more commonly 80 centimetres (31 in). [1] Dorsum dark to light grey or brown, no spots or stripes. Ventrum much paler to give striking counter shading. [4] It is the most basal species in the genus., [5] and the type species.
It is a much widespread species that is found in rivers and estuaries of Amazon and Orinoco watersheds, Guianas and northeastern Brazil. [2]
It is found in both freshwater and brackish water systems. It is a demersal potamodromous fish commonly inhabits muddy waters and deeper, flowing channels. Developing young are carried downriver by the current, [6] ending up in estuaries. [7] Juveniles and sub adults are migratory. [2] It is entirely piscivorous preying on loricariids and other bottom-dwelling fish. [4] [8]
B. vaillantii is extremely important for local fisheries, often being the most caught fish by weight in Brazil, [9] with a peak recorded catch of 29 thousand tons in the 1970s. Afterwards, the piramutaba stocks had shown signs of depletion, and subsequent recovery. [7] [10]