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  • Brachyplatystoma vaillantii''Venezuela'' 25cm
  • Brachyplatystoma vaillantii
  • Brachyplatystoma vaillantii
  • Brachyplatystoma vaillantii
  • Brachyplatystoma vaillantii
  • Brachyplatystoma vaillantiiJuvenile
  • Brachyplatystoma vaillantiiVideo
  • Brachyplatystoma vaillantii
  • Brachyplatystoma vaillantii
Hop to next section All Fishes Data Sheet
Scientific Name Brachyplatystoma vaillantii    (Valenciennes, 1840)
Common Names Laulao
Højfinnet Spademalle (Denmark), Piramuta-Antennenwels (Germany)
Type Locality Cayenne, French Guiana; Suriname; Colombia.
Synonym(s) Bagrus piramuta, Bagrus reticulatus, Brachyplatystoma parnahybae, Brachyplatystoma vaillante, Piramutana piramuta, Platystoma vaillantii, Silurus vaillantii
Etymology Greek, brachys, eia = short + Greek, platys = flat + Greek, stoma = mouth. 
Hop to next section Species Information
Size 1500mm or 59.1" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification Gray dorsal surface, underside. Large adipose fin clearly separates from other congeners.
Hop to next section Habitat Information
Distribution South America: Amazon and Orinoco River basins and major rivers of the Guianas and northeastern Brazil.
Amazon (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Orinoco (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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IUCN Red List Category
Not Evaluated
pH 6.0 - 7.6
Temperature 24.0-27.0°C or 75.2-80.6°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters Naturally found in muddy, black water and clear waters as far downstream as freshwater estuary habitat.
Hop to next section Husbandry Information
Breeding Unreported.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Hop to next section Further Information
Reference Histoire naturelle des poissons v. 15, pp 21, Pl. 423.
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
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There are 2 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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Brachyplatystoma vaillantii QR code LFS label creator
ARN ref:1.15.161.1178
Last Update 2025 Jan 02 01:36 (species record created: 2004 Jan 08 00:00)