Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii

(Castelnau, 1855)

Vernacular names
English : Gilded catfish
French : Dourada argenté

Classification
Class : Teleostei
Order : Siluriformes
Family : Pimelodidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
The species grows up to 1.90 m in length. Head flattened, very long barbels around mouth, tail fin has long filamentous extentions. Unmistakable with its entirely silvery coloration, whitish belly. Fins have slight reddish tinge.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in South America, in the Amazonian basin, from Venezuela and most of Colombia to Bolivia westwards to north-central Brazil. Occurs mostly in deep waters of large rivers.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : This species is common so far but harvested for the international trade and vulnerable to habitat loss on a medium to long term.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

Back to “Other catfish species” page