Aguarunichthys Bagropsis Bergiaria Brachyplatystoma Calophysus Cheirocerus Duopalatinus Exallodontus Hemisorubim Hypophthalmus Iheringichthys Leiarius Luciopimelodus Megalonema Parapimelodus Perrunichthys Phractocephalus Pimelabditus Pimelodina Pimelodus Pinirampus Platynematichthys Platysilurus Platystomatichthys Propimelodus Pseudoplatystoma Sorubim Sorubimichthys Steindachneridion Zungaro Zungaropsis Pimelodontidae The Pimelodidae, commonly known as the long-whiskered catfishes, are a family of catfishes (order Siluriformes).

The low-eye catfish (previously family Hypophthalmidae), and thus the genus Hypophthalmus, which contains four species, was reclassified with the pimelodids.

[3] Many long-whiskered catfishes grow to be very large, including the piraiba, Brachyplatystoma filamentosum, reaching about 3 m (9.8 ft) in length.

[10] Brachyplatystoma species have specialized pelagic young with greatly elongated barbels and fin filaments, and strongly ornamented pectoral spines.

Other large pimelodids, such as Pseudoplatystoma, Sorubim, and Sorubimichthys, whose young inhabit vegetated, marginal waters, have distinctive cryptic coloration patterns and much enlarged caudal and pectoral fins.

[4] Because of their large size in many species, pimelodids are an important food fish in South America.

Despite the looming danger of size in many species, pimelodids remain a popular home aquarium fish.