P. fasciatum

Taxobox
name = Barred Sorubim
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Siluriformes
familia = Pimelodidae
genus = "Pseudoplatystoma"
genus_authority = Bleeker, 1862
species = "P. fasciatum"
binomial = "Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum"
binomial_authority = (Linnaeus, 1766)
synonyms = "Platystoma fasciatum"
"Platystoma punctifer"
"Platystoma truncatum"
"Pseudoplatystoma punctifer"
"Silurus fasciatus"

"Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum" or Barred Sorubim is a species of South American Catfish native to Paraguay, the Rio Lebrijo in Venezuela, and the Rio Negro in Peru.Riehl, R. and Baensch, H.A. Mergus Aquarien Atlas p. 510 (2002) 14. edt.] The nocturnal predator feeds mainly on other fish and crabs.FishBase species|genus=Pseudoplatystoma|species=fasciatum|year=2007|month=May] Females reach a more notable size. They become sexually mature at 56 cm, males at 45 cm. Fecundity is estimated at 8 million eggs per kg. [ Le Bail, P.-Y, P. Keith and P. Planquette. Atlas des poissons d'eau douce de Guyane (tome 2, fascicule II). Publications scientifiques du M.N.H.N, Paris, p. 307 (2000) ]

ubspecies

According to Riehl and Haensch five subspecies have been described:
Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum brevifile Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1882
Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum fasciatum Linnaeus, 1766
Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum intermedium Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1888
Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum nigricans Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1889
Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum reticulatum Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1889

However, Buitrago–Suárez and Burr place P. f. brevifile, P. f. intermedium, and P. f. nigricans, in the synonymy of P. punctifer. P. f. reticulatum is elevated as another distinct species P reticulatum. [Buitrago–Suárez, U.A. and Burr, B.M. Taxonomy of the catfish genus Pseudoplatystoma Bleeker (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae) with recognition of eight species Zootaxa 1512 p. 1-38 (2007)]

References