Redtail catfish

The redtail catfish, Phractocephalus hemioliopterus, is a pimelodid (long-whiskered) catfish. In Venezuela, it is known as cajaro, and in Brazil, it is known as pirarara,[2] stemming from the Tupi language words pirá and arara.[3] It is the only extant species of the genus Phractocephalus. This fish is common in the aquarium trade, although its massive adult size makes it unsuitable for all but the largest aquariums.[4]

This article is about the South American redtail catfish. For the Asian redtail catfish, see Hemibagrus wyckioides.

Redtail catfish
Temporal range: Miocene - Recent [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Pimelodidae
Genus: Phractocephalus
Agassiz, 1829
Species:
P. hemioliopterus
Binomial name
Phractocephalus hemioliopterus
(Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
Synonyms
  • Silurus hemioliopterus Bloch & Schneider, 1801
  • Pimelodus grunniens Humboldt, 1821
  • Rhamdia grunniens Humboldt, 1821
  • Phractocephalus bicolor Spix & Agassiz, 1829

Fossil species

Although the redtail catfish is the only living representative of this genus, there are other members that date back to the upper Miocene, and are only known from fossil remains. P. nassi was described in 2003, from the Urumaco Formation at Urumaco, Venezuela. Another fossil species, P. acreornatus, is known from the Solimões Formation, Acre, Brazil.[1][2] This genus has a minimum age of about 13.5 million years.[2]

Description

Phractocephalus hemioliopterus can reach about 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) in length, and about 80 kg (180 lb) in weight.[5] However, this is exceptionally rare, and most do not approach this size. They average 3.5–4.5 feet (1.1–1.4 m) in length. These colorful large catfishes have a brownish back, with yellow sides, and characteristic orange-red dorsal fin and caudal fin (hence the common name). It has a pair of barbels on the upper jaw, and two pairs on the lower jaw.

Distribution and habitat

The redtail catfish is native to the Amazon, Orinoco, and Essequibo river basins of South America, in Ecuador, Venezuela, Guyana, Colombia, Peru, Suriname, Bolivia, and Brazil.[2] It is found only in fresh water, and inhabits larger rivers, streams, and lakes.[6][4]

Relationship to humans

Due to the potential large size of this species, redtail catfish are considered a game fish by anglers. The current IGFA world record for weight belongs to the Brazilian Gilberto Fernandes with 56 kg (123 lb 7 oz).[7]

It is said that the natives do not eat the meat of the redtail catfish because it is black in coloration.[8]

In Thailand, it is an alien species that has been introduced by humans, like the common pleco, zebra tilapia, and alligator gar.[9] In some places, it is feared because it has been believed to be the cause of the mysterious drownings of many of the passengers aboard the passenger ship Sobral Santos when it sank.

In the aquarium
Phractocephalus hemioliopterus in an aquarium.

The redtail catfish is an extremely popular fish in Amazonian-themed exhibits at public aquaria, where they are often housed with other large fish, such as Colossoma macropomum or pacu, and other large catfish.

Juveniles are often available as aquarium fish, despite their eventual large size. In an aquarium where they may be well-fed, these fish can grow quite rapidly,[8] and require tanks of at least 10,000 l (2,600 US gal) when fully adult.[4] Weekly feeding is appropriate for this catfish; overfeeding is a common cause of death in this species.[10] It feeds heavily on live and dead fishes and other meat. Even as a juvenile of only a few inches in length, they are able to swallow many of the more common aquarium fish (such as tetras or guppies), and it is only appropriate to house this fish with other species of relatively large size. Redtail catfish also have a habit of swallowing inedible objects in the aquarium. Though these are often regurgitated, both the swallowing and the regurgitation can present a problem for the fish, and these objects are best kept out of the aquarium.[10]

The redtail catfish has been hybridized with other fish, such as the Pseudoplatystoma or Tiger Shovelnose Catfish, through the use of hormones, in attempts to create a viable food fish: the Tiger Redtail Catfish. These hybrid fish sometimes make it into the aquarium hobby under a variety of common names.[10]

See also

References
  1. Paleobiology Database
  2. Lundberg, John G.; Aguilera, Orangel (2003). "The late Miocene Phractocephalus catfish (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae) from Urumaco, Venezuela: additional specimens and reinterpretation as a distinct species" (PDF). Neotropical Ichthyology. 1 (2): 97–109. doi:10.1590/S1679-62252003000200004.
  3. Cunha, Antônio Geraldo da (2010). Dicionário etimológico da língua portuguesa (in Portuguese) (4 ed.). LEXIKON Editora. pp. 498–499. ISBN 9788586368899. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  4. Seriously Fish
  5. Fishing. World Records: Phractocephalus hemioliopterus. Retrieved 9 May 2013
  6. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2012). "Phractocephalus hemioliopterus" in FishBase. February 2012 version.
  7. "Catfish, redtail (pirarara)". World Record Search. International Game Fish Association. 3 April 2010. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  8. Axelrod, Herbert R. (1996). Exotic Tropical Fishes. T.F.H. Publications. ISBN 0-87666-543-1
  9. "10 ปลาเอเลี่ยนในเมืองไทย ที่กำลังยึดแหล่งน้ำโดยคุณไม่รู้ตัว" (in Thai). spokedark. August 13, 2014. Archived from the original on June 30, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  10. "PlanetCatfish::Catfish of the Month::January 2000". PlanetCatfish.com. 2006-05-11. Retrieved 2007-05-08.
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