Brachyplatystoma vaillantii (Valenciennes, 1840)
Laulao catfish
Brachyplatystoma vaillantii
photo by Holm, E.

Family:  Pimelodidae (Long-whiskered catfishes)
Max. size:  150 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 20 kg
Environment:  demersal; freshwater; brackish, potamodromous
Distribution:  South America: Amazon and Orinoco River basins and major rivers of the Guianas and northeastern Brazil.
Diagnosis:   
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 (Ref. 35381). Usually caught with longlines and drift nets (Ref. 35381). Its flesh of excellent quality is highly appreciated.
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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