Kumakuma

<i>Brachyplatystoma filamentosum</i>

Brachyplatystoma filamentosum

Very large Amazon catfish

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 Guianas and northeastern Brazil.[1][2]

Quick Facts Brachyplatystoma filamentosum, Scientific classification ...

Distribution

The species is found in rivers and estuaries of Amazon and Orinoco watersheds, Guianas and northeastern Brazil.[2]

Description

It grows to a length of 2.8 m.[1] The largest Amazon piraíba are 2 – 2.5 m long and weigh more than 150 kg.[citation needed] Juveniles exhibit dark body spots or blotches.[3]

It is entirely piscivorous preying on loricariids and other bottom-dwelling fish.[3]

Ecology

Brachyplatystoma filamentosum is found in both freshwater and brackish water systems. The species is a demersal potamodromous fish that commonly inhabits deeper, flowing channels with soft bottoms.[2]

Uses

As a large fish, piraíba are considered to be game fish and commercial fish. They are generally obligate piscivores; however, stomach contents have been found to include parts of monkeys.[4]

Piraíba are sometimes kept in aquaria, although the adults need a very large tank to accommodate their swimming.[5]

A man poses beside a captured piraiba
Juvenile piraiba

References

  1. [1]
    Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2020). "Brachyplatystoma filamentosum" in FishBase. June 2020 version.
  2. [2]
    "Cat-eLog - Pimelodidae - Brachyplatystoma vaillantii". Planet Catfish. Retrieved 2020-06-02.
  3. [3]
    "Brachyplatystoma ilamentosum (LICHTENSTEIN, 1819) - Piraíba". Seriously Fish. Retrieved 2020-06-02.
  4. [4]
    "Kumakuma (Brachyplatystoma filamentosum) Ecological Risk Screening Summary" (PDF). fws.gov. Retrieved 2020-06-02.
  5. [5]
    Jarikov, Viktor. "True piraiba aka Brachyplatystoma filamentosum". monsterfishkeepers.com. MonsterFishKeepers. Retrieved 12 December 2023.


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