Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Order
- Perciformes
- Family
- Pimelodidae
- Genus
- Pinirampus
- Species
- pirinampu
Habitat
This species primarily inhabits large rivers and their tributaries in South America, such as the Amazon, Orinoco, and Paraná basins, preferring slow-moving waters with sandy or muddy substrates. They are often found in areas with submerged vegetation or woody debris for cover. Geographic preferences include tropical freshwater environments with warm temperatures.
Diet
Flatwhiskered catfish feed on a variety of items including small fish, crustaceans, insects, and plant matter. They are opportunistic bottom-feeders, using their barbels to detect and capture prey in low-light conditions. Feeding activity peaks at night or during twilight hours when they are most active.
Behavior
Flatwhiskered catfish are primarily solitary and nocturnal, spending daylight hours hidden in riverbed crevices or under vegetation. They exhibit territorial behavior around feeding sites, aggressively defending against intruders. During the rainy season, they may migrate to flooded areas for feeding and reproduction, showing adaptability to changing water levels.
Conservation Status
Listed as Not Evaluated by IUCN.