Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Order
- Perciformes
- Family
- Pimelodidae
- Genus
- Hemisorubim
- Species
- platyrhynchos
Habitat
This species inhabits large rivers and floodplains in South America, including the Amazon, Orinoco, and Paraná basins. It prefers slow-moving waters with sandy or muddy substrates, often hiding in crevices or under debris.
Diet
The Porthole shovelnose catfish is carnivorous, primarily feeding on smaller fish, crustaceans, and insects. It hunts nocturnally along river bottoms, using its barbels to detect and capture prey in low-visibility conditions.
Behavior
This catfish is primarily nocturnal, spending days hidden in riverbed shelters and becoming active at night to hunt. It is solitary and territorial, particularly during breeding seasons, and may migrate to flooded areas during the rainy season.
Conservation Status
Listed as Not Evaluated by IUCN.