Spotted tiger shovelnose Catfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Spotted tiger shovelnose Catfish |
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The spotted tiger shovelnose catfish (scientific name: Pseudoplatystoma punctifer) is a type of long-whiskered catfish. These fish have long, sensitive whiskers that help them find food in the water. They live in the Amazon basin, which is a huge area of rivers and forests in South America. You can find them in countries like Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
This catfish is important for fishing and is also raised on farms for food. It can be tricky to farm because it's very picky about what it eats. Also, sometimes older or larger fish of this species might eat smaller, younger ones. How these fish grow and behave can change depending on their diet and how their parents acted when they were young, especially when they are tiny larvae.
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About the Spotted Tiger Shovelnose Catfish
The spotted tiger shovelnose catfish is a large fish. It can grow up to 140 centimeters (about 55 inches) long. That's taller than many kids! Like other fish, it has a backbone made of many small bones called vertebrae. This catfish usually has between 37 and 40 of these bones.
Where Does It Live?
This amazing fish calls the Amazon basin its home. This huge area includes the Amazon River and all the smaller rivers and streams that flow into it. It's one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. The spotted tiger shovelnose catfish lives in the freshwater rivers of several South American countries. These include Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
What Does It Eat?
The spotted tiger shovelnose catfish is known for being very particular about its food. In the wild, it likely eats smaller fish and other creatures it finds in the rivers. When people try to raise these fish on farms, their picky eating habits can make it harder to feed them properly. Sometimes, these fish can also be aggressive towards other fish of their own kind, especially younger ones.
How Does It Grow?
The life of a spotted tiger shovelnose catfish starts as a tiny larva. These larvae are like baby fish. How they grow and develop depends on a few things. Their diet plays a big role in how healthy and big they get. Also, the way their parents behaved can influence how the young fish develop. Scientists study these patterns to understand more about the fish's life cycle.
Why Is It Farmed?
The spotted tiger shovelnose catfish is a "commercially farmed species." This means people raise them in special ponds or tanks to sell for food. Because they can grow quite large, they provide a good amount of meat. However, as mentioned, they are "difficult to harvest." This is because they are choosy about their food and can be aggressive. Farmers need to find the right food and conditions to raise them successfully.
See also
In Spanish: Pseudoplatystoma punctifer para niños
