genus Ceptopsis

Cetopsidae: Cetopsinae

Blue Whale Catfish, Carnero, Bagre Azul

FROM FRANK MAGALLANES

Ceptopsis is commonly called a Peruvian Blue Whale by English-speaking people and is usually the species seen in pet store aquariums. 

There are apparently a few color morphs of this species; blue, green, tiger stripped, and one called Sleep Cetopsis.The whale catfishes are restricted to mainly the northeastern area of South America (ie; Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela). They are typically found at depths ranging from 2-40m and can be found in the river channels of the Brazilian Amazon such as the rivers Amazonas and Solimoes. Although some cetopsids in the cetopsidae family have only been found at maximum lengths of 30 mm, C. coecutiens are known to grow up to 35 cm in length. Their larger size and streamline bodies (comparable to other Cetopsidae) allow whale catfishes to swim with great effectiveness in faster currents.

This species is thought to be harmless (See Dr. Warren E. Burgess, Catfishes of the World) however, I would not trust it too far. They attack fishes and carrion in fast moving surface waters. They are also known to drill holes in humans and actually eat you from the inside out. Leaving pretty much a hollow corpse. Law enforcement in areas where the fish is common would sometimes believe a person was killed by gunfire because of bullet type holes in the body. Only through autopsy would they find evidence of carnero intrusion in the hollowed out body (source Jeramy Wade, River Monsters, Animal Planet). Piranhas are largely blamed for human mortalities or injuries. But these fish known as carnero can make a piranha look harmless. There is no doubt that the carnero does indeed skeletonize humans in a feeding frenzy.

In the digestive tracts of related species of Cetopsidae such as B. oliveirai, remains of spiders, heads of ants, mosquito-like dipteran, diptera and orthopteran have been found. This suggests that Cetopsidae may have some form of terrestrial diet in addition to other fish. C. coecutiens have one row of thin, blunt, conical teeth with which they eat their prey. Cetopsidae: Cetopsinae.

VALID SPECIES LIST AND DISTRIBUTION - 2007

REFERENCES 

• Sheahan, James (1996) -  Ceptopsis sp., Fish Capsule W.L.Fink, Instructor- article was not reviewed by Fink for accuracy at the time of printing. 

• Ferris, Carl (2002) Cetopsidae compilation.

• Milani de Arnal, N. 1991. Osteología del bagre ciego Cetopsis coecutiens (Lichtenstein) 1819 (Siluriformes, Cetopsidae) y especies de la familia Cetopsidae presentes en Venezuela. Escuela de Biología, U.C.V.

• Lichtenstein, M. H. C.  1823. Verzeichniss der Doubletten des zoologischen Museums der Königl. Universität zu Berlin, nebst Beschreibung.... Berlin.  Verz. Doubletten Zool. Mus. Univ. Berlin. i-x + 1-118

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UPDATED: 12/06/2015