Author: (Linnaeus, 1766)
FBname: Barred sorubim
Remark: Considered as species inquirenda by some authors.  Junior synonym <i>Platystoma punctifer<i> (Buitrago-Suárez, 2006:120) is considered valid by Buitrago-Suárez & Burr, 2007 (Ref. 59362).  This species record will be modified.
Comments: Occurs throughout the principal riverbeds and sometimes in the flooded areas of forests.  Its biology is similar to that of <i>P. tigrinum</i> but it appears to be more fond of shady streams.  Feeds at night on fish (loricariids, cichlids and characoids) as well as crabs (Ref. 6868).  Confines its foraging activities to riverbeds.  Its yellowish flesh is succulent and like that of other silurids, it is without bones (Ref. 27188).  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 (Ref. 35381).  Utilized for human consumption.  See Loubens and Panfili, 2000 (Ref. 34213) for reproductive biology and ecology.