Brachyplatystoma capapretum
| Brachyplatystoma capapretum | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Pimelodidae |
| Genus: | Brachyplatystoma |
| Species: | B. capapretum |
| Binomial name | |
| Brachyplatystoma capapretum | |
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.[1][2]
Description
B. capapretum, described in 2005, was previously confused with B. filamentosum. These two species are very closely related, being sister genera. They can be differentiated in premaxillary dentition, juvenile and adult coloration, and adult maxillary barbel length and caudal fin shape. Both species exhibit spotted juvenile stages, though in B. capapretum these spots are much larger than the eye, while in B. filamentosum these spots are about the same size as the eye. Also, the cross section of the caudal peduncle is rounded in these two species, as opposed to a deeper, thinner cross section in other Brachyplatystoma species. The adult B. capapretum has a very dark or even black dorsum (its species name is derived from Portuguese which means "black cape"), as opposed to the relatively lighter dorsal surface of B. filamentosum.[3]
B. capapretum grows to a length of at least 58.1 centimetres (22.9 in) and a weight of 32.7 kilograms (72 lb)[4]
Distribution
It is a much widespread species that is found in large tributary rivers and lakes including Amazon River from Belém, Brazil upriver to at least Iquitos, Peru throughout Trombetas, Madeira, Negro, Manacapuru, Purus, Tefé, Juruá, Jutaí, and Içá.[2]
Ecology
The species is assumed to be ecologically similar to its sister, and most locals do not differentiate between the two.[3] It is a freshwater benthopelagic fish inhabiting muddy waters and deeper, flowing channels. It is entirely piscivorous. Juveniles and sub adults are migratory.[2][3] A few larvae were found upstream of the Madre de Dios river during a survey of ichthyoplankton done in December, though they were vastly outnumbered by other catfish larvae.[5]
References
- ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Brachyplatystoma capapretum". FishBase. June 2020 version.
- ^ a b c "Cat-eLog - Pimelodidae - Brachyplatystoma capapretum". Planet Catfish. Retrieved 2020-06-02.
- ^ a b c Lundberg, John G.; Akama, Alberto (2005). Buth, D. (ed.). "Brachyplatystoma capapretum: a New Species of Goliath Catfish from the Amazon Basin, with a Reclassification of Allied Catfishes (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae)". Copeia. 2005 (3): 492–516. doi:10.1643/CI-04-036R1. S2CID 85923139.
- ^ "Brachyplatystoma capapretum Lundberg & Akama, 2005". fishbase.se. FishBase. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
- ^ Rojas, María; Olivera, Robinson; Quispe, Roberto; Hernán, Ortega. "Estudio preliminar de ictioplancton de la Amazonia peruana con énfasis en la familia Pimelodidae (Preliminary study of the Peruvian Amazon ichthyoplankton with emphasis on the Pimelodidae family)". scielo.org.pe. Peru Biol. Retrieved 10 November 2024.