Parapimelodus is a small genus of long-whiskered catfishes native to South America.

P. valenciennis is known from the Uruguay, La Plata, Paraguay, and the lower to middle Paraná Rivers.

The dorsal and pectoral fin spines are strong and pungent.

[2] They also have very large eyes on the sides of the head that can be seen both from above and below, which is related to independence from the bottom in locomotion and feeding; though a common trait in many other catfish, it is rare in Pimelodids.

[2] P. nigribarbis is the most abundant species in beam trawling at the Saco de Tapes, Lagoa dos Patos.