Species: Brachyplatystoma filamentosum, the Kumakuma

Brachyplatystoma filamentosum (Lichtenstein, 1819)

Kumakuma

Body elongate, rounded; snout and head depressed; head with a bony shield; front and rear nostrils well separated; eye small (~1/5 snout length), on upper side of head; rear nostril without a flap along its front edge; mouth well under snout; large patches of teeth on sides of roof of mouth; 3 pairs of barbels, top barbels very long, reaching past end of tail; 17-21 gill rakers; 1st dorsal fin large, with short base, 1st spine short, 2nd spine long and pungent; large skin flap 2nd dorsal fin present; anal fin behind dorsal fin base, base short, equal to 2nd dorsal base; pectoral fin very low on side, with large, lockable spine; tail fin deeply forked, upper lobe with a very long filament in juveniles and sub adults, which shortens and may be lost in adults; lateral line complete; scaleless