Redtail catfish

The redtail catfish, Phractocephalus hemioliopterus, is a pimelodid (long-whiskered) catfish. In Venezuela, it is known as cajaro, in Guyana, it is known as a banana catfish, and in Brazil, it is known as pirarara, stemming from the Tupi language words pirá and arara. 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. They feed on fish, crustaceans and fallen fruits. They are not evaluated by IUCN.

Redtail catfish
Temporal range:
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
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
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