PlanetCatfish.com - Sorubimichthys planiceps (Pimelodidae) Cat-eLog

Juvenile
Sub-adult
Juvenile
Juvenile - dorsal view
Juvenile
Mature fish
Mature fish in large home
Video - juvenile

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Sorubimichthys planiceps** (Spix & Agassiz, 1829)
Common Names	Firewood Catfish Acha Cubo (Peruvian), Cabo De Hacha (Colombian), Doncella (Venezuelan), Guerevere (Peruvian), Økseskaftmalle (Denmark), Paletona (Venezuelan), Peixe-lenha (Brazilian), Spatelwels (Germany)
Type Locality	Amazon River basin, Solimões, Rio Negro.
Synonym(s)	Platystoma planiceps, Platystoma spatula, Pteroglanis manni, Sorubim jandia, Sorubim pirauaca, Sorubimichthys ortoni, Sorubimichthys spatula
Pronunciation	saw rue bim ick thees - pla neh seps
Etymology	Sorubi is the Brazilian local name for this fish (and several other pimelodids) +(Greek)ichthys=fish. The specific epithet, planiceps meaning flathead.
Species Information
Size	1500mm or 59.1" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Body has an overall cylindrical shape. Very flattened head. Large long caudal fin. In large specimens the upper jaw surpasses the lower. Overall coloration and color pattern varies greatly over the animal's range, but the fish generall has a broad cream stripe reaching from the gill cover to the caudal peduncle. This light colored stripe may or may not be bordered by darker stripes.
Sexing	Unknown. Overall adults sizes for females are reported as larger than those of males.
General Remarks	The largest specimen reported from the Amazon was 1.5 meters; Puerto Lopez, Colombia 1.6 meters; Rio Caqueta 97 cm. Considered ''Vulnerable'' to extinction due to overfishing by commercial fisheries. Average adult size captured by commercial fisheries has declined in recent years and now averages under one meter. In Puerto Carreno, on the Rio Orinoco, 5.5 tons of S. planiceps were harvested in 2001. Under Colombian law, specimens under 95 cm may not be retained. This would also make the small specimens imported for the aquarium trade illegal. Sadly, this law is rarely enforced.
Habitat Information
Distribution	South America: Amazon and Orinoco River basins. Orinoco (click on these areas to find other species found there) Orinoco, Upper Orinoco, Guaviare (click on these areas to find other species found there) Orinoco, Upper Orinoco, Guaviare, Upper Guaviare, Guayabero (click on these areas to find other species found there) Amazon (click on these areas to find other species found there) Amazon, Middle Amazon (Solimoes), Japurá, Caquetá (click on these areas to find other species found there) Orinoco, Middle Orinoco, Meta (click on these areas to find other species found there) Orinoco, Middle Orinoco, Meta, Metica (click on these areas to find other species found there) Amazon, Upper Amazon, Putumayo (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Least Concern , range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2020.
pH	6.0 - 7.6
Temperature	24.0-28.0°C or 75.2-82.4°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters	Normally found in whitewaters high in suspended sediments.
Husbandry Information
Feeding	A voracious predator that consumes other fishes. User data.
Furniture	With an adult size reaching almost five feet, this fish would require a massive tank. The substrate should be sand with large stones and driftwood providing hiding places. The water current should be strong with a high oxygen content.
Compatibility	Other fishes with similar water requirements that are too large to be swallowed whole.
Suggested Tankmates	Other large catfishes of the families Pimelodidae or Doradidae.
Breeding	Unreported. Juveniles appear during the onset of the rainy season.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Selecta genera et species piscium quos in itinere per Brasiliam, pp 25, Pl. 12.
Registered Keepers	There are 16 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There are 2 wishes to keep this species, see who wants what.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 8 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
Forum BBCode

	Search for S. planiceps
	Look up S. planiceps on AquaticRepublic.com
	Look up S. planiceps on Fishbase
	Look up S. planiceps on Encyclopedia of Life
	Look up S. planiceps on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.15.54.122
Last Update	2025 Jan 02 01:37 (species record created: 2001 Apr 22 00:00)