Brachyplatystoma is a genus of catfish from the family Pimelodidae. As the occasionally used common name goliath catfishes indicates, this genus includes some of the largest species of catfish, including the piraíba, B. filamentosum, which reaches up to 3.6 metres (12 ft) in length; though the other species don't reach this length. Brachyplatystoma are found in the Amazon and Orinoco basins, and other tropical freshwater and brackish habitats in South America. Many species are migratory. These fish are important as food fish and, to some extent, aquarium fish.
Exallodontus aguanai is a catfish species of the monotypic genus Exallodontus of the family Pimelodidae. This genus and species was described in 1991. This species reaches 20 centimetres (7.9 in) SL. This species is native to the Amazon and Orinoco River basins of Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela. Exallodontus is classified under the "Calophysus-Pimelodus clade". Within this clade, it is considered a part of the "Pimelodus-group" of Pimelodids, which also includes Pimelodus, Duopalatinus, Cheirocerus, Iheringichthys, Bergiaria, BagropsisParapimelodus, Platysilurus, Platystomatichthys, and Propimelodus.
The porthole shovelnose catfish or spotted shovelnose catfish, Hemisorubim platyrhynchos, is the only species in the genus Hemisorubim of the catfish family Pimelodidae.
Platynematichthys notatus, the coroatá or striped catfish, is a species of catfish of the monotypic genus Platynematichthys of the family Pimelodidae. It is native to the Amazon and Orinoco basins in South America. In the Orinoco this distinctly spotted species reaches up to 1 m (3.3 ft) in standard length, but it reportedly only reaches about half that size in the Amazon.
Duopalatinus is a small genus of long-whiskered catfishes native to South America.
Pinirampus pirinampu is a species of catfish of the family Pimelodidae. P. pirinampu is also known as the flatwhiskered catfish.
Pimelodina flavipinnis is the only species of the genus Pimelodina of the family Pimelodidae of catfish.
Hypophthalmus is a genus of long-whiskered catfishes native to freshwater in tropical and subtropical South America.
Harttia is a genus of armored catfishes native to South America.
Pseudacanthicus is a genus of medium to large-sized suckermouth armored catfishes native to South America, where found in the Amazon and Orinoco basins, as well as rivers of the Guianas. They are primarily found in fast-flowing waters, sometimes relatively deep. They are sometimes kept in aquariums.
Aspredinichthys is a genus of banjo catfishes found in fresh and brackish waters in tropical South America from the Orinoco delta, through the Guianas, to the Amazon delta. Both species are found in lower portions of rivers and in coastal waters of northern South America from Venezuela to northern Brazil where they are benthic fish.
Auchenipterus is a genus of driftwood catfishes.
Semaprochilodus is a genus of South American freshwater fish in the family Prochilodontidae. They have sometimes been included in the genus Prochilodus instead. Of the six species, three are from the Amazon Basin, two from the Orinoco Basin and a single from the Maroni Basin. Depending on the exact species, they reach a maximum length of 27–54 centimetres (11–21 in).
Brachyplatystoma juruense, the zebra catfish, is a species of catfish of the family Pimelodidae that is native to Amazon and Orinoco River basin of Peri and Rio Juruá, northwestern Brazil, as well as Peru and Venezuela.
Brachyplatystoma platynemum, the slobbering catfish, is a species of catfish of the family Pimelodidae that ranges from Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela.
Brachyplatystoma capapretum, the dark caped goliath catfish, Peru piraiba, false piraiba, or filhote da capa preta, is a species of catfish of the family Pimelodidae that is native to rivers of Brazil and Peru.
Brachyplatystoma filamentosum, commonly called piraíba, kumakuma, valentón or lau lau, is a species of catfish of the family Pimelodidae and genus Brachyplatystoma that is native to Amazon and Orinoco River basins and rivers in the Guianas and northeastern Brazil. It is an important predator in its ecosystem, and in turn is a food fish.
Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii, the gilded catfish or dourada, is a species of catfish of the family Pimelodidae that is native to the Amazon and Orinoco River basins and major rivers of French Guiana.
Hypophthalmus marginatus, commonly called the Mapará, is a species of demersal potamodromous catfish of the family Pimelodidae that is native to Amazon and Orinoco River basins of Brazil, Peru and major rivers of French Guiana and Suriname.
Pariolius pax is a species of three-barbeled catfish found only in small creeks and tributaries of the upper Orinoco River basin. This species grows to a length of 3.2 centimetres (1.3 in) SL and inhabits sand and gravel bottoms of creeks of relatively fast flowing water as well as sluggish waters of the same streams where aquatic vegetation is lacking. It feeds mainly on Trichoptera larvae.
