Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Order
- Perciformes
- Family
- Pimelodidae
- Genus
- Pimelodus
- Species
- albicans
Habitat
This catfish inhabits large rivers and reservoirs in South America, such as the Paraná and Uruguay rivers, preferring slow-moving or standing waters with sandy or muddy bottoms. It thrives in freshwater environments with abundant vegetation and cover, often found in depths up to 10 meters.
Diet
Pimelodus albicans is omnivorous, feeding on insects, crustaceans, small fish, and plant matter found on the river bottom. It exhibits benthic feeding behavior, using its barbels to locate food, and is primarily active at night when it forages in shallow waters.
Behavior
This species is generally solitary and nocturnal, spending daylight hours hidden under rocks or in vegetation to avoid predators. It shows minimal territorial behavior but may compete for food resources, and during spawning, adults become more active in groups. They are adaptable swimmers, using their barbels to navigate murky waters effectively.
Conservation Status
Listed as Not Evaluated by IUCN.