Teleostei (teleosts) >
Siluriformes (Catfishes) >
Doradidae (Thorny catfishes) > Doradinae
Etymology: Platydoras: Greek, platys = flat + Greek, doras = skin (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Linnaeus.
Issue
Widespread and geographically variable species. Le Bail et al. (2000) recognized two distinct species of Platydoras in the Rio Maroni; however, their use of available names is questionable. Accurate determination of available names and the likely discovery of undescribed species await thorough revision.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal; pH range: 5.8 - 7.5; dH range: 2 - 20. Tropical; 24°C - 30°C (Ref. 1672); 9°N - 8°S, 72°W - 50°W
South America: Amazon, Tocantins, Parnaíba, Orinoco, Essequibo River basins and coastal drainages in French Guiana and Suriname (Ref. 37054). Reported from Argentina (Ref. 56308).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 24.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 37054)
Lives on the bottom and feeds on mollusks, crustaceans, and organic debris. Frequently occurs on sandy bottoms. Often escapes into the sediment where it hides among the anfractuosities of the submerged stocks (Ref. 35381). A juvenile in a stream of the rio Araguaia was recorded to clean the piscivorous characin Hoplias cf. malabaricus (Ref. 50806).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Sabaj, M.H. and C.J. Ferraris Jr., 2003. Doradidae (Thorny catfishes). p. 456-469. In R.E. Reis, S.O. Kullander and C.J. Ferraris, Jr. (eds.) Checklist of the Freshwater Fishes of South and Central America. Porto Alegre: EDIPUCRS, Brasil. (Ref. 37054)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5625 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01820 (0.01049 - 0.03156), b=3.02 (2.87 - 3.17), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & (Sub)family-body (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.0 ±0.40 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (19 of 100).