Pimelodus ornatus Kner 1858

Occurs in principal river beds, in upstream parts of rivers, downstream rapids, in backwater zones or on stony bottoms of pools with dead tree trunks. Active at dusk. Piscivorous. Emits loud grumblings (Ref. 35381). Secretes toxic mucus and the wounds caused by its pectoral spines are very painful. The female can preserve spermatozoids by coating them with original maternal secretions and inserting them in the epithelium of its genital tract (Ref. 27188). The presence of sperm in the mucus of the female's genital tract is indicative of internal fertilization (Ref. 35381).

fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial

Espécie facilmente distinguida das demais pelo padrão de colorido, com uma mancha preta na nadadeira dorsal, duas faixas pretas longitudinais na lateral do corpo, e a boca larga com a placa de dentes do pré-maxilar larga com uma projeção póstero-lateral

Amplamente distribuído pela bacia Amazônica, Orinoco, rios da Guiana, alto Paraguai e Paraná