Salminus

Salminus, popularly known as dorado or dourado, is a genus of relatively large (up to 1.3–1.4 m or 4.3–4.6 ft long^[1][2]), predatory freshwater fish from the family Bryconidae, of which they are the only members of the subfamily Salmininae.^[3] They are native to large tropical and subtropical rivers in South America, and undertake migrations during the rainy season to spawn.^[4] They are very popular among recreational anglers and also support important commercial fisheries.^[4]

Salminus Temporal range: Late Miocene–present PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Salminus franciscanus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Characiformes
Family:	Bryconidae
Subfamily:	Salmininae Cockerell, 1915
Genus:	Salminus Agassiz, 1829
Species
4, see text

"Salmininae" redirects here; not to be confused with Salmoninae.

Species

Significant taxonomic confusion has surrounded this genus, and until a review in 1990, several additional species were recognised (most of these are junior synonyms of S. brasiliensis).^[5] Although known for more than 150 years, S. franciscanus was only scientifically described in 2007.^[4] Today, five extant (living) species are recognised:^[6]

• Salminus affinis Steindachner, 1880 – Santiago and Magdalena basins in Ecuador and Colombia
• Salminus brasiliensis (G. Cuvier, 1816) (dorado/golden dorado) – Paraguay, Uruguay, Chapare and Mamoré basins, and drainage of the Lagoa dos Patos
• Salminus franciscanus F. C. T. Lima & Britski, 2007 – São Francisco basin
• Salminus hilarii Valenciennes, 1850 – upper Paraná, Amazon and Orinoco basins
• Salminus santosi Lima, 2022 – Tocantins basin^[7]

A sixth extinct species is only known from Late Miocene (Tortonian)-aged fossil remains:

• †Salminus noriegai Cione & Azpelicueta, 2013 – Argentina^[8]