From Peru we received once more juveniles of the fantastic predatory catfish B. juruense. Adults of this species attain a maximum length of around 60 cm and have a very nice, zebra-like striped pattern. The coloration of the body of the juveniles is very variable. There do exist spotted ones, striped ones or even uniformly dark ones. All have in common the large, white caudal fin. On the upper lobe of the caudal fin is a filament that is as long as the body of the fish. Juveniles – the photographed specimens are 5-8 cm long – are already predators. Sometimes they swim free in the water column, the head turned upside, against the current. Now the caudal filament works as a stabilizer, comparable to the tail of a kite. Another, species-specific behaviour of the fish is to sit on the bottom, braced on the ventral fins and looking against the water surface. It seems likely that in this position the long tail filament works as a fishing rod that attracts small fish.
For our customers: the fish have code 211200 (5-8 cm) and 211201 (7-10 cm) on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Lexicon: Brachyplatystoma: from ancient Greek, means “short Platystoma”; Platystoma is another genus of catfish. juruense: after the Rio Jurua, the type locality.
Suggestion of a common name: Gold zebra catfish
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
| Angaben zum Tier | |
|---|---|
| Herkunft | Peru |
| Verfügbare Größe in cm | 5 - 10 |
