Brachyplatystoma tigrinum, the zebra shovelnose, or tigerstriped catfish, is a large species of catfish of the family Pimelodidae that is native to the Amazon basin in Brazil, Colombia and Peru.[1] It is entirely piscivorous.[1]
B. tigrinum is found in the upper Amazon basin, with records from the western Amazon, Caquetá, Madeira, Marañon, Putumayo and Ucayali systems. Adults mostly inhabit fast-flowing sections of whitewater rivers, but can also occur in clearwater rivers.[2]
Although a typically reported maximum size is, a study in Peru found many that were larger, with the largest individual being long and in weight.[3] The head is elongate and compressed, and the tail has long filaments.[1] The base colour of the body is yellow to almost white and it has distinct dark stripes.[4] It is sometimes confused with B. juruense.[1]