| Firewood catfish | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Pimelodidae |
| Genus: |
Sorubimichthys Bleeker, 1862 |
| Species: | S. planiceps
|
| Binomial name | |
| Sorubimichthys planiceps | |
| Synonyms | |
The firewood catfish (Sorubimichthys planiceps) a species of South American pimelodid catfish, is the sole member of the genus Sorubimichthys. [2] Known by locals along the Amazon Basin as peixe-lenha, [3] the firewood catfish is so called because it is of little eating value and is often dried and used for firewood. [4]
Distribution and habitat
Firewood catfish occur in the Orinoco and Amazon Basins. [5] It is normally found in whitewater high in suspended sediments. [6]
Appearance and anatomy
This species attains about 150 cm (5 ft) in standard length. [5]
These fish change in appearance as they grow. [7] In adults, the upper jaw is extremely long, about one-third the length of the snout. [7] The dorsum is ash-gray with darker spots. The sides have a white band, bordered below by a dark gray or brown band. The venter is usually white with some large spots. The dorsal fin and adipose fin are spotted. [7] However, in juveniles, the snout is short and the pectoral fins are large and rounded. The white band does not appear until the fish is about 40 0m (1.6 in).[ clarification needed] The full adult color pattern and fin shapes appear by at least 20 cm (8 in). [7]
Ecology
This fish is mainly nocturnal. [5] Firewood catfish are highly predatory and feed on other fish. [6]
References
- ^ Salvador, G.N. (2023). "Sorubimichthys planiceps". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2023: e.T49829601A91631044. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T49829601A91631044.en. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
- ^ Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2006). Species of Sorubimichthys in FishBase. April 2006 version.
- ^ The Catfish Connection-Ronaldo Barthem and Michael Goulding pg. 38
- ^ Sorubimichthys planiceps (Spix & Agassiz, 1829)
- ^ a b c Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2012). "Sorubimichthys planiceps" in FishBase. February 2012 version.
- ^ a b "PlanetCatfish::Cat-eLog::Pimelodidae::Sorubimichthys planiceps". 2006-02-09. Retrieved 2007-05-15.
- ^ a b c d Lundberg, John G.; Nass, Pedro; Mago-Leccia, Francisco (1989). "Pteroglanis manni Eigenmann and Pearson, a Juvenile of Sorubimichthys planiceps (Agassiz), with a Review of the Nominal Species of Sorubimichthys (Pisces: Pimelodidae)". Copeia. 1989 (2). Copeia, Vol. 1989, No. 2: 332–344. doi: 10.2307/1445429. JSTOR 1445429.