Breeding, growth and exploitation of Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii Castelnau, 1855 in the Caqueta River, Colombia

The main life history traits of the large Amazonian migratory catfish Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii were determined in the Caqueta River, Colombia. The breeding season occurred during the rising and falling water periods. The size at first sexual maturity was significantly larger for females (88.5 cm Ls) than males (81.7 cm). Both males and females reproduce for the first time between their third and fourth year. The growth characteristics were estimated using length frequency analyses. Females grew systematically larger than males, the difference being about 9% after the first year and increas...