Species: Brachyplatystoma vaillantii, Laulao catfish, the Piramutaba

Brachyplatystoma vaillantii (Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1840)

Laulao catfish, Piramutaba

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 only slightly under snout; large patches of teeth on sides of roof of mouth; 3 pairs of barbels, top barbel very long, reaching to end of tail; 25-31 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, distinctly  greater than  2nd dorsal base; pectoral fin very low on side, with large, lockable spine; tail fin deeply forked; lateral line complete; no scales.