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Pseudopimelodus bufonius

Giant Bumblebee Catfish

(Valenciennes, 1840)Formerly Pimelodus bufonius Valenciennes, 1840

Last revised 2026Edit this page

On this page4 sections
Subadult from the German aquarium trade measuring around 80 mm TL.
Subadult from the German aquarium trade measuring around 80 mm TL.Enrico Richter

Quick factsEdit

Max size
245mm SL10in SL
Aquarium size
not recorded
Temp
not recorded
pH
not recorded
Hardness
not recorded

Difficulty3 of 8 measures

Moderate

How the rating is worked out

Space
large tank
Water
unknown
Temp
unknown
Diet
unknown
Temperament
unknown
Social
fine alone
Compatibility
choose tankmates carefully

Other demands

Each of these can raise the rating on its own, whatever the measures above say.

Hardiness
unknown

The giant bumblebee catfish, Pseudopimelodus bufonius, is distributed throughout northeastern South America, from Venezuela to eastern Brazil. Its range extends from the Lake Maracaibo basin, and it grows to 245 mm SL. The type locality is uncertain but probably Cayenne, French Guiana.

Etymology

Edit

Pseudopimelodus: from the Ancient Greek ψευδής (pseudes), meaning 'false, lying, untrue', and the generic name Pimelodus.

bufonius: 'toad-like'.

Distribution

Edit

Distributed throughout northeastern South America from the Lake Maracaibo basin in Venezuela to eastern Brazil.

Type locality is uncertain but probably Cayenne, French Guiana.

References

  1. Ferraris, C. J., Jr. (2007). Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418, 1-628

Species images · 1

Subadult from the German aquarium trade measuring around 80 mm TL.
Subadult from the German aquarium trade measuring around 80 mm TL.Enrico Richter

These photographs are used with each photographer's permission.

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Distribution

Profile completeness11 of 24

46% complete

Also missing: aquarium size, habitat, aquarium size notes, maintenance, water condition notes, diet, behaviour and compatibility, sexual dimorphism, reproduction, notes.

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