Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Siluriformes (Catfish) >
Pimelodidae (Long-whiskered catfishes)
Etymology: Zungaro: Native name Zungaro, applied to many large Pimelodids (Ref. 45335).
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal; pH range: 6.5 - 7.2; dH range: ? - 18; potamodromous (Ref. 51243). Tropical; 20°C - 24°C (Ref. 2060), preferred ?
South America: Amazon and Orinoco River basins.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 140 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 36506)
Specimens measuring 130 cm and weighing 50 kg are not rare. In the Amazon, this fish is found quite upstream, in the main bed of the big tributaries with muddy bottom (Ref. 35381). Mainly piscivorous, hunts at night, sometimes going into flood prone areas of rivers. Some migrations in pursuit of migrating Triportheus and Anodus have been reported. Sexually mature upon reaching 10 kg weight. The nursery ground is at the river mouths (Ref. 35381).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Silfvergrip, A.M.C., 1992. Zungaro, a senior synonym of Paulicea (Teleostei: Pimelodidae). Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwat. 3(4):305-310. (Ref. 26389)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)
CITES (Ref. 94142)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: commercial
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