Piraiba (Brachyplatystoma filamentosum)

General data
- Main name: Piraiba
- Local names: Kumakuma
- Climates: Tropical
- Habitat: Freshwater
- Native: South America
- Distribution: Amazon, Orinoco
Classification
- Genus: Brachyplatystoma - Kumakuma
- Family: Pimelodidae - Long-whiskered catfishes
- Order: Siluriformes - Catfishes
- Class: Teleostei - Ray-finned fishes
- Superclass: Osteichthyes - Bony fishes
Description
Brachyplatystoma filamentosum, the piraiba or kumakuma, is a species of large catfish of the family Pimelodidae and genus Brachyplatystoma that is native to Amazon and Orinoco River basins and fluvials in Guianas and northeastern Brazil. It grows to a length of 2.8 m. The largest Amazon Piraiba records 2 – 2.5 m weighing more than 150 kg. Dorsum dark to light grey with small dark spots on caudal-fin or peduncle. Dorsal fin with pink shading. Caudal fin deeply-forked. Juveniles exhibit dark body spots or blotches. It is entirely piscivorous preying on loricariids and other bottom-dwelling fish.