Description:
Dorsal soft rays (total): 5-6; Anal soft rays: 11
- 14. Species of Parapimelodus have extremely
long gill rakers and more than 55 gill rakers on the
first branchial arch, which is related to feeding
on plankton. They also have very large eyes on the
sides of the head that can be seen both from above
and below, which is related to independence from the
bottom in locomotion and feeding; though a common
trait in many other catfish, it is rare in Pimelodids.
Diet: They feed on plankton.
Etymology: nigri-, black; barbis, barbel,
referring to the “almost black” barbels.
Common
Name:
None
Synonyms:
Pimelodus (Pseudorhamdia)
nigribarbis
Family:
Pimelodidae
Distribution:
South America:
Laguna dos Patos basin (Brazil and Uruguay). Type
locality: Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul, Camaquam
River.
Parapimelodusnigribarbis Departamento
de Rocha, Uruguay
Parapimelodusnigribarbis Close up of
the black barbels-Departamento de Rocha, Uruguay
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