Laulao catfish (Brachyplatystoma vaillantii)

Scientific name: Brachyplatystoma vaillantii Valenciennes, 1840

Laulao catfish (Brachyplatystoma vaillantii)

The Laulao catfish (Brachyplatystoma vaillantii) is a freshwater fish of the family Pimelodidae. Native range: South America, Amazon and Orinoco River basins and major rivers of the Guianas and northeastern Brazil.

Biology

Juveniles and subadults frequently found at river mouths and estuaries. Occurs downstream from the first falls where the water is charged with mud and the bottom is muddy. In the Amazon, it can sometimes be caught in the upper part up to the foot of the Andean range where it appears to be more rare than Brachyplatystoma filamentosum and Brachyplatystoma flavicus but never in the zones prone to flood. Reproductive migrations probably occur like in other Brachyplatystoma. Usually caught with longlines and drift nets. Its flesh of excellent quality is highly appreciated.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Brachyplatystoma vaillantii
Family
Pimelodidae (Long-whiskered catfishes)
Order
Siluriformes (Catfish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
150
Common length
80.0
Environment
Freshwater; brackish; demersal; potamodromous
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
South America: Amazon and Orinoco River basins and major rivers of the Guianas and northeastern Brazil.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: commercial
Resilience
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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