Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Order
- Perciformes
- Family
- Doradidae
- Genus
- Megalodoras
- Species
- uranoscopus
Habitat
This species inhabits large rivers and their tributaries in the Amazon basin of South America, preferring slow-moving, deep waters with sandy or muddy substrates. They are often found in areas with submerged logs or vegetation for cover, typically at depths of 5-10 meters.
Diet
Megalodoras uranoscopus is omnivorous, feeding on insects, crustaceans, small fish, and plant matter scavenged from the river bottom. They are primarily nocturnal feeders, using their barbels to locate and capture prey in low-visibility conditions.
Behavior
These catfish are solitary and territorial, often hiding in crevices or under debris during the day and becoming active at night to forage. They exhibit defensive behaviors like flaring spines and producing sounds to deter threats, and they generally avoid open waters.
Conservation Status
Listed as Not Evaluated by IUCN.