Calophysus macropterus
{{Short description|Species of fish}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Pimelodidae_Callophysus_macropterus.jpg
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| genus = Calophysus
| parent_authority = Müller & Troschel in Müller, 1843
| species = macropterus
| authority = (Lichtenstein, 1819)
| synonyms =
- Pimelodes macropterus
Lichtenstein, 1819 - Pimelodus ctenodus
Spix & Agassiz, 1829 - Pimeletropis lateralis
Gill, 1859
}}
Calophysus macropterus, known natively as the piracatinga/pirácatina, piranambú, pintadinho, zamurito, water buzzard,{{cite journal |last1=Valente-Aguiar |first1=Murilo Sérgio |last2=Falcão |first2=Ana Cecília |last3=Magalhães |first3=Teresa |last4=Dinis-Oliveira |first4=Ricardo Jorge |title=Cadaveric ichthyofauna of the Madeira River in the Amazon basin: the myth of man-eating piranhas |journal=Forensic Science, Medicine, Pathology |date=2020 |volume=16 |pages=345–351 |doi=10.1007/s12024-020-00221-8 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340525016_Cadaveric_ichthyofauna_of_the_Madeira_River_in_the_Amazon_basin_the_myth_of_man-eating_piranhas |access-date=1 November 2024}} or by its popular English name vulture catfish, is a species of catfish (order Siluriformes) of the monotypic genus Calophysus of the family Pimelodidae.{{ITIS |id=681737 |taxon=Calophysus macropterus |accessdate=May 23, 2007}} It is sometimes placed in its own family, Calophysidae.
Description
This species reaches {{convert|40|cm|in}} SL,{{FishBase|genus=Calophysus|species=macropterus|year=2012|month=February}} though lengths of {{Convert|71|cm|in}} have been reported. It originates from the Amazon and Orinoco basins, which encompasses waterways in Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela.
The vulture catfish is so named because it is an active scavenger, seeking carcasses in its native waterways to consume in shoals; its feeding action promotes the skeletonization of its food items - they are able to consume all the muscles and viscera from an {{Convert|80|kg|lbs}} cadaver within half an hour - though it apparently avoids feeding on cartilage elements, eyeballs, scalps, and limb extremities. Its voracious nature has led to it becoming an important species in forensic pathology, especially concerning those victims whose corpses ended up in rivers; C. macropterus is often found in association with the cadaver even after it is extracted from the water, often being found under the victim's clothing. This species is also stated to commonly attack fish caught in fishermen's nets and seines as well as those hooked on trotlines or gaffed. They also seem to congregate in areas where fishermen and fishmongers dispose of fish offal.
In the aquarium
This fish is one of the smaller pimelodids available in the trade, and may be appropriate for a large aquarium. It is an adaptable and hardy species. Tankmates should be chosen with great care as this fish has the ability to bite and tear off pieces of flesh,{{cite web|url=http://www.planetcatfish.com/cotm/cotm.php?article_id=331|title=PlanetCatfish::Catfish of the Month::May 2006|date=2006-05-10|accessdate=2007-06-08}} although many who have actually kept the fish report no apparent signs of aggression.{{cite web|url=http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?420960-Calophysus-macropterus-(Vulture-Catfish)-Questions&p=5183040&viewfull=1#post5183040|title=Calophysus macropterus (Vulture Catfish) Questions|date=2011-06-08|accessdate=2011-12-12}}
References
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20100525194609/http://www.catfish-and-more.com/ Ros, Wolfgang] and Schmidt, Jakob (2008): [https://archive.today/20110112094351/http://www.datz.de/QUlEPTU5MDA2NyZNSUQ9NTMxJlRJWD0y.html?UID=18617A0D9E865557DE30F853184206DB729BA537984A565B "Calophysus macropterus: Ein 'Hai' im Süßwasseraquarium", D. Aqu. u. Terr. Z. (Datz) 61 (4): 16–18.]
{{Taxonbar|from=Q3754015}}
Category:Fish of South America
Category:Fish of the Amazon basin
Category:Taxa named by Hinrich Lichtenstein
Category:Fish described in 1819
{{Pimelodidae-stub}}