Pimelodus grosskopfii
CR

Pimelodus grosskopfii

Declining

Photo: (c) Ictiologia Universidad Católica de Oriente, some rights reserved (CC BY)

Overview

Pimelodus grosskopfii is a species of catfish in the family Pimelodidae. It is endemic to the Magdalena River and Lake Maracaibo basins in South America.

Pimelodus grosskopfii faces severe threats from dam construction and water diversions that fragment its riverine habitat and alter natural flow regimes. Agricultural runoff and urban pollution have degraded water quality in its limited range, while overfishing pressure has reduced population numbers. The species' restricted distribution in the Paraná River basin makes it particularly vulnerable to localized environmental changes.

Threat summary

Habitat

This catfish species inhabits the main channels and tributaries of the Paraná River system in South America, preferring areas with moderate to strong currents and rocky or sandy substrates. It typically occurs in deeper waters of large rivers where it feeds on smaller fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Wetlands (inland)· majorWetlands (inland) - Permanent rivers/streams· major

Conservation measures underway

Species recovery

Other threatened species in PIMELODIDAE

EN

Steindachneridion punctatum

Unknown
EN

Steindachneridion scriptum

Declining
EN

Conorhynchos conirostris

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VU

Pimelabditus moli

Unknown

Threatened in Brazil

Striped SmoothhoundCR

Striped Smoothhound

Mustelus fasciatus

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VU

Mussismilia hispida

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Myrcia carioca

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Brasilia TapaculoEN

Brasilia Tapaculo

Scytalopus novacapitalis

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Pimelodus grosskopfii classified as Critically Endangered?
Pimelodus grosskopfii is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Pimelodus grosskopfii faces severe threats from dam construction and water diversions that fragment its riverine habitat and alter natural flow regimes. Agricultural runoff and urban pollution have degraded water quality in its limited range, while overfishing pressure has reduced population numbers. The species' restricted distribution in the Paraná River basin makes it particularly vulnerable to localized environmental changes.
Where does Pimelodus grosskopfii live?
Pimelodus grosskopfii occurs in Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Pimelodus grosskopfii?
The main threats to Pimelodus grosskopfii are 1.1, 2.1, 5.4, and 7.2. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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