Brachyplatystoma filamentosum

Brachyplatystoma filamentosum
Tocantins basin
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Pimelodidae
Genus: Brachyplatystoma
Species:
B. filamentosum
Binomial name
Brachyplatystoma filamentosum
(Lichtenstein, 1819)
Synonyms
  • Brachyplatystoma goeldii
  • Pimelodus filamentosus
  • Piratinga piraaiba
  • Platystoma affine
  • Platystoma gigas
  • Sorubimichthys gigas

Brachyplatystoma filamentosum, commonly called piraíba, kumakuma, valentón or lau lau, is a species of catfish of the family Pimelodidae that is native to Amazon and Orinoco River basins and rivers in the Guianas and northeastern Brazil. It is an important predator in its ecosystem, and in turn is a food fish.