Zungaro zungaro
Local name: Gilded catfish, Jaú
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilded_catfish
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
The Gilded catfish faces severe pressure from overfishing throughout its range, as this large predatory species is highly valued for commercial and subsistence fisheries. Dam construction across major South American river systems fragments populations and disrupts critical spawning migrations, while deforestation and agricultural runoff degrade water quality in key breeding areas. Mining activities, particularly gold mining, introduce heavy metals and sediments that contaminate the aquatic ecosystems this species depends upon.
Habitat
The Gilded catfish inhabits large river systems throughout the Amazon and Orinoco basins, preferring deep channels and floodplain areas with strong currents. This migratory species requires access to both main river channels for feeding and tributary systems for spawning, making it particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation.
Other threatened species in Pimelodidae
Threatened in Argentina
Frequently asked questions
Why is Gilded catfish, Jaú classified as Vulnerable?
Where does Gilded catfish, Jaú live?
What are the main threats to Gilded catfish, Jaú?
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