Lima Shovelnose Catfish

This species is also known by the vernacular names “Hockey Stick Catfish”, “Lima Shovelnose”, “Chiripira”, “Chucharón” and “Pico de pato”.

 

The Lima shovelnose catfish (Sorubim lima) is a species of shovelnose catfish that is common throughout the Amazon and parts of South America. Their name originates from their flat rounded heads, which they use like a shovel to dig in the substrate for various food items. In the wild, the Lima shovelnose catfish spends much of its time moving about the bottom of rivers and tributaries looking for small crustaceans and fish species to consume.

 

A very widespread species that has been recorded from Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina. It occurs in numerous riverbasins most notably the rios Amazon, Orinoco, Paraná, Parnáiba and Tocantins. It’s an important source of food across much of this range and is fished on a commercial basis.

 

Lima Shovelnose Catfish, have become extremely rare in the aquarium hobby, and are subject to change depending on availability.