Brachyplatystoma vaillantii, the Laulao catfish, piramutaba or piramuta, is a species of catfish of the family Pimelodidae that is native to Amazon and Orinoco River basins and major rivers of the Guianas and northeastern Brazil.[1][2]
| Brachyplatystoma vaillantii | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Pimelodidae |
| Genus: | Brachyplatystoma |
| Species: | B. vaillantii
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| Binomial name | |
| Brachyplatystoma vaillantii (Valenciennes, 1840)
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| Synonyms | |
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The fish is named in honor of François Levaillant (1753-1824) a French explorer, naturalist and zoological collector, who brought the type specimens to Europe.[3]
Description
editIt grows to a length of 150 centimetres (59 in), though is more commonly 80 centimetres (31 in).[1] Dorsum dark to light grey or brown, no spots or stripes. Ventrum much paler to give striking counter shading.[4] It is the most basal species in the genus.[5], and the type species.
Distribution
editIt is a much widespread species that is found in rivers and estuaries of Amazon and Orinoco watersheds, Guianas and northeastern Brazil.[2]
Ecology
editIt is found in both freshwater and brackish water systems. It is a demersal potamodromous fish commonly inhabits muddy waters and deeper, flowing channels. Developing young are carried downriver by the current,[6] ending up in estuaries.[7] Juveniles and sub adults are migratory.[2] It is entirely piscivorous preying on loricariids and other bottom-dwelling fish.[4][8]
Relation to humans
editB. vaillantii is extremely important for local fisheries, often being the most caught fish by weight in Brazil,[9] with a peak recorded catch of 29 thousand tons in the 1970s. Afterwards, the piramutaba stocks had shown signs of depletion, and subsequent recovery.[7][10]
References
edit- ^ a b Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Brachyplatystoma vaillantii". FishBase. June 2020 version.
- ^ a b c "Cat-eLog - Pimelodidae - Brachyplatystoma vaillantii". Planet Catfish. Retrieved 2020-06-02.
- ^ Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara (22 September 2018). "Order SILURIFORMES: Families HEPTAPTERIDAE, PHREATOBIIDAE, PIMELODIDAE and PSEUDOPIMELODIDAE". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Brachyplatystoma aillantii (VALENCIENNES, 1840) - Piramuta". Seriously Fish. Retrieved 2020-06-02.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Rojas, María; Olivera, Robinson; Quispe, Roberto; Hernán, Ortega (July 2007). "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)". Revista Peruana de Biología. 13 (3). Peru Biol.: 263–266. doi:10.15381/rpb.v13i3.2354. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
- ^ a b Jimenez, Erica Antunez; Filho, Mutsuo Asano; Frédou, Flávia Lucena (June 2013). "FISH BYCATCH OF THE LAULAO CATFISH Brachyplatystoma vaillantii (VALENCIENNES, 1840) TRAWL FISHERY IN THE AMAZON ESTUARY". Brazillian Journal of Oceanography. 61 (2): 129–140. doi:10.1590/S1679-87592013000200005. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
- ^ Lopes, Taise Miranda; da Câmara, Luís Fernando; Dufech, A. P. S. "Oral (Tema Livre) 4871 CARACTERIZAÇÃO DA DIETA DA PIRAMUTABA Brachyplatystoma vaillantii (SILURIFORMES: PIMELODIDAE), NO RIO MADEIRA, RONDÔNIA, BRASIL". researchgate. Neotropical Consultoria Ambiental.
- ^ Araujo-Lima, C.A.R.M.; and M.L. Ruffino (2003). Migratory Fishes of the Brazilian Amazon. Pp. 233—302 in: Carolsfeld, J.; B. Harvey; C. Ross; and A. Baer (editors). Migratory Fishes of South America. ISBN 9781552501146
- ^ "Fishery and Aquaculture Country Profiles The Federative Republic of Brazil". fao.org. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
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