The giant talking catfish or giant raphael catfish (''Megalodoras uranoscopus'') is a species of thorny catfish that is native to the

Amazon Basin The Amazon basin is the part of South America drained by the Amazon River and its tributaries. The Amazon drainage basin covers an area of about , or about 35.5 percent of the South American continent. It is located in the countries of Bolivi ...

Bolivia , image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg , flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, and green from top to bottom) with the coat of arms of Bolivia in the center , flag_alt2 = 7 × 7 square p ...

Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...

Colombia Colombia (, ; ), officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country in South America with insular regions in North America—near Nicaragua's Caribbean coast—as well as in the Pacific Ocean. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Car ...

Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechua: ''Ikwadur Ripuwlika''; Shuar: ''Eku ...

and

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal , national_motto = "Fi ...

. This species grows to a length of SL (for a female specimen) and a maximum weight of . These fish are harvested in local

commercial fisheries Commercial fishing is the activity of catching fish and other seafood for commercial profit, mostly from wild fisheries. It provides a large quantity of food to many countries around the world, but those who practice it as an industry must often ...

Ecology

''M. uranoscopus'' occurs in small groups and occasionally forms schools. This mainly diurnal species inhabits rivers and feeds on the fruits of '' Licania longipetala'' and ''

Astrocaryum jauari ''Astrocaryum jauari'' is the most frequently encountered palm native to Amazon Rainforest vegetation in the floodplains of the Rio Negro, in Brazil. Its fruits are edible. This plant has further commercial value because it may be used in the pr ...

'' in addition to pulmonate snails.

Aquarium

This species is not commonly imported but it is appealing for its colour pattern which remains with age. Diet includes catfish pellets and tablets, prawns and frozen bloodworms. This species requires a large aquarium but is otherwise peaceful, hardy and compatible with most midsized to large fish. A group of three or more is ideal. The lighting should not be too bright. Hiding places should be provided for these fish.

References

* Doradidae Fish of Bolivia Freshwater fish of Brazil Freshwater fish of Colombia Freshwater fish of Ecuador Freshwater fish of Peru Fish of the Amazon basin Fish described in 1888 Taxa named by Carl H. Eigenmann Taxa named by Rosa Smith Eigenmann {{Doradidae-stub