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Hydrolycus armatus
Species of fish From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Hydrolycus armatus is a species of dogtooth characin found in freshwater of tropical South America.[3] It is sometimes known as the black-tailed payara, payara,[1] or harm,[4][5][6] a name it shares with the related H. scomberoides.
This predatory fish occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade, but it requires a very large tank.[4][7] In its native range it is considered a major gamefish.[6][7]
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Distribution and habitat
This species of fish is found in the Amazon, Orinoco and Essequibo basins in tropical South America.[3][8] They are found in several different freshwater habitats, but often in fast-flowing water.[6][9] They are typically found in deeper waters during the day.[9] The species is locally common; in a major study of a Venezuelan floodplain river, 1⁄3 of the collected fish were H. armatus, and the species was particularly common in creeks and lagoons.[10] At least some populations are migratory.[9]
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Description
Hydrolycus armatus are overall silvery. In adults the base of the tail and anal fin is pale yellowish, and the distal part is blackish, contrasting with a narrow white edge at the very tip (unique among Hydrolycus species).[4][8][11]
A typically reported maximum total length of this fish is 89 cm (2 ft 11 in),[3] but records show specimens up to 95 cm (3 ft 1 in) in Venezuela[5] and more than 100 cm (3.3 ft) in Brazil.[6] It typically weighs up to 8.5 kg (18 lb 12 oz),[3] but can reach almost 18 kg (40 lb).[6] It has frequently been confused with the generally smaller H. scomberoides.[4][8] H. armatus reaches maturity when at least 30 cm (1 ft) long.[9] Like other dogtooth characins, it has very long pointed canine teeth. In H. armatus these can surpass 5 cm (2 in) in length in large individuals.[5] These are used for spearing their prey, usually other fish.[11]
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References
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