Platydoras armatulus

(Valenciennes, 1840)

Vernacular names
English : Southern striped raphael
French : Silure rayé

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

Identification
The species grows to 43 cm long for a weight of 230 g. Large head with flattened mouth and small barbels. Body coloration is dark brown to nearly black with two wide yellow longitudinal bands on flanks (darkening and being thinner with age). Thin yellow band on top of back and broad yellow band on pectoral and caudal fins. Armored flanks with oblique plaques forming lines.

Range and habitat
The species is widespread in the northern half of South America, being found in the main river basins from Colombia and Guianas to north Argentina. It lives in big and medium sized rivers, in both sluggish and fast running waters, even near waterfalls. Its ecology is poorly known.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species is widespread but very little is known about it except what we learnt from captive specimens. It is listed as Least Concern for now until we understand better its populations trends.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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