Description:
Brachyplatystoma capapretum is characterised
by the following features of which the first three
are unique among the Pimelodidae and the last is unique
among the Brachyplatystomatini. 1.
Jaw teeth dimorphic with mostly fine, densely spaced
outer teeth and relatively few (three to six) inner
rows of slender, straight, inwardly depressible teeth.
2. Juveniles (less than 200 mm SL,
but some as large as 300 mm SL) marked by bold, large(twice
or more times eye diameter) dark brown or gray spots
centered above lateral line; ground color in preservative
tan to medium brown. 3. Adults and
juveniles (more than ca. 200 mm SL) black to very
dark gray or brown dorsally and abruptly countershaded
along a horizontal from snout tip to caudal-fin base,
especially along posterior half of body just above
or at lateral line; ventrally plain white to dusky
cream; most specimens with light patch anterior to
upper lobe of caudal fin. 4. Caudal
fin of adults moderately to shallowly forked, lobes
broad and nearly equal. Habitat:
Collected below 200 m asl in the Amazon mainstream
and largest white and black water tributaries; trawled
10s to 100s m off shore, on mud and sand substrates.
Two unique synapomorphies place B.capapretum
and B.
filamentosumtogether as sister species: juveniles with spots
on and above lateral line; caudal peduncle subcircular
in cross-section. Young animals show a small spot
pattern on the sides and have a strongly forked caudal
fin. They will get lighter with increasing size and
show a purple sheen on the body. The spot pattern
is somewhat less clear in adolescent animals and a
metallic gloss is added. Aquarium Care:
This is a predator so tankmates would need to be a
good size to avoid predation. Furnish a large tank
with sand, driftwood and maybe a large pipe when juvenile.
An indoor pond would be a better bet.
Common
Name:
Peru Piraíba
Synonyms:
None
Family:
Pimelodidae
Distribution:
South America:
Amazon River from Belém, Brazil upriver to
at least Iquitos, Peru, and several large tributary
rivers and lakes including Trombetas, Madeira, Negro,
Manacapuru, Purus, Tefé, Juruá, Jutaí,
and Içá.
Size:
58.0cm. (23ins)
Temp:
23-27°C (73-81°F)
p.H.
6.0-7.5.
Reference:
Froese, R. and D. Pauly.
Editors. 2009. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic
publication. www.fishbase.org, version (021/2011). Lundberg, J.G. and A. Akama 2005
Brachyplatystoma capapretum: a new species of Goliath
catfish from the Amazon basin, with a reclassification
of allied catfishes (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae). Copeia
(3):492-516. Richter, Enrico.
2011 Amazon Predators
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