Species learning profile
Redtail catfish
Phractocephalus hemioliopterus
Redtail catfish (Phractocephalus hemioliopterus) is a freshwater fish associated with river habitat in South America. A bright orange-red tail contrasts with its dark back and white belly.
Your learning progress stays on this device.
At a glance
- Eau
- Eau douce
- Habitat
- Rivière
- Longueur maximale
- 135 cm
- Répartition
- Amérique du Sud
- Famille
- Pimelodidae
- Ordre
- Siluriformes
Observe
How to identify Redtail catfish
- A bright orange-red tail contrasts with its dark back and white belly.
- Guide context: river habitat in South America.
- Reported maximum length: 135 cm — capable of growing longer than many people are tall. Maximum is not the same as typical adult size.
Field note: color, size, and markings can change with age, sex, season, depth, and lighting. Use several traits together.
Place and pattern
Where it lives—and how it behaves
Habitat and range
This species is associated with river habitat across South America. Flow, seasonal floods, connected side channels, and access to spawning reaches all shape its river habitat.
Behavior
Forages along deep channels and flooded forests
Food-web connections
What it eats and why it matters
Diet
Fish, crustaceans, and fallen fruit.
Ecological role
Moves nutrients between river and floodplain foods.
Remember
One fact worth keeping
Redtail catfish peut atteindre environ 135 cm et vit souvent près de Rivière.
Think like a conservationist
A conservation lens
River fish depend on connected water. Dams, blocked migrations, pollution, and altered flow can matter even when the channel still looks wet.
This habitat lens is not a current population-status assessment. Status can differ among regions and change as new assessments are published; follow the reference links and local fisheries or wildlife agencies for current decisions.
Recall
Quick knowledge check
Which habitat is most closely associated with Redtail catfish in this guide?
Keep exploring
References and further reading
Fishdle summarizes stable identification and ecology concepts in plain language. Taxonomy and population knowledge continue to change, so use primary assessments and regional authorities for conservation or management decisions.
Make connections