Firewood catfish

Taxobox
name = Firewood catfish
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Siluriformes
familia = Pimelodidae
genus = "Sorubimichthys"
genus_authority = Bleeker, 1862
species = "S. planiceps"
binomial = "Sorubimichthys planiceps"
binomial_authority = (Spix & Agassiz, 1829)
synonyms =
*"Sorubim jandia"
Spix, 1829
*"Sorubim Pirauáca"
Spix & Agassiz, 1829
*"Platystoma planiceps"
Spix & Agassiz, 1829
*"Platystoma spatula"
Spix & Agassiz, 1829
*"Sorubimichthys spatula"
(Spix & Agassiz, 1829)
*"Sorubimichthys ortoni"
Gill, 1870
*"Pteroglanis manni"
Eigenmann & Pearson, 1924

The firewood catfish, "Sorubimichthys planiceps", a species of South American pimelodid catfish, is the sole member of the genus "Sorubimichthys". Known by locals along the Amazon basin as Peixe-lenha [The Catfish Connection-Ronaldo Barthem and Michael Goulding pg. 38] , the Firewood catfish is so called because it is of little eating value and is often dried and used for firewood [ [http://www.scotcat.com/pimelodidae/sorubimichthys_planiceps.htm Sorubimichthys planiceps (Spix & Agassiz, 1829) ] ] .

Distribution and habitat

Firewood catfish occur in the Amazon and Orinoco River basins. It is normally found in whitewater high in suspended sediments.cite web|url=http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=122|title=PlanetCatfish::Cat-eLog::Pimelodidae::Sorubimichthys planiceps|date=2006-02-09|accessdate=2007-05-15]

Appearance and anatomy

This species attains about 150 centimetres (59 in) SL.FishBase species|genus=Sorubimichthys|species=planiceps|year=2007|month=May]

These fish change in appearance as they grow.cite journal|title="Pteroglanis manni" Eigenmann and Pearson, a Juvenile of "Sorubimichthys planiceps" (Agassiz), with a Review of the Nominal Species of "Sorubimichthys" (Pisces: Pimelodidae)|first=John G.|last=Lundberg|coauthors=Nass, Pedro; Mago-Leccia, Francisco|journal=Copeia|issue=2|pages=332–344|year=1989|doi=10.2307/1445429|volume=1989] In adults, the upper jaw is extremely long, about one-third the length of the snout. The dorsum is ash-gray with darker spots. The sides have a white band, bordered below by a dark gray or brown band. The venter is usually white with some large spots. The dorsal fin and adipose fin are spotted. However, in juveniles, the snout is short and the pectoral fins are large and rounded. The white band does not appear until the fish is about 40 0m (1.6 in). The full adult color pattern and fin shapes appear by at least 20 cm (8 in).

Ecology

This fish is mainly nocturnal. Firewood catfish feed primarily on nekton.

References