Zungaro zungaro (Humboldt, 1821)
Gilded catfish
photo by Sabaj PĂ©rez, M.H.

Family:  Pimelodidae (Long-whiskered catfishes)
Max. size:  140 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater; pH range: 6.5 - 7.19999980926514; dH range: 18, potamodromous
Distribution:  South America: Amazon and Orinoco River basins.
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  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).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 21 December 2020 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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