Hydrolycus armatus

Hydrolycus armatus is a species of dogtooth characin found in freshwater of tropical South America.[1] It is sometimes known as the payara,[2][3][4] a name it shares with the related H. scomberoides.

Hydrolycus armatus
Adult in Berlin Aquarium, Germany
Not evaluated (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Actinopterygii
Order:
Characiformes
Family:
Cynodontidae
Genus:
Hydrolycus
Species:
H. armatus
Binomial name
Hydrolycus armatus
(Jardine, 1841)

This predatory fish occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade, but it requires a very large tank.[2][5] In its native range it is considered a major gamefish.[4][5]

Distribution and habitat

This species of fish is found in the Amazon, Orinoco and Essequibo basins in tropical South America.[1][6] They are found in several different freshwater habitats, but often in fast-flowing water.[4][7] They are typically found in deeper waters during the day.[7] 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.[8] At least some populations are migratory.[7]

Description

H. 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).[2][6][9]

A typically reported maximum total length of this fish is 89 cm (2.92 ft),[1] but records show specimens up to 95 cm (3.12 ft) in Venezuela[3] and more than 100 cm (3.3 ft) in Brazil.[4] It typically weighs up to 8.5 kg (19 lb),[1] but can reach almost 18 kg (40 lb).[4] It has frequently been confused with the generally smaller H. scomberoides.[2][6] H. armatus reaches maturity when at least 30 cm (1 ft) long.[7] 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.[3] These are used for spearing their prey, usually other fish.[9]

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References
  1. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2017). "Hydrolycus armatus" in FishBase. January 2017 version.
  2. SeriouslyFish: Hydrolycus armatus. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  3. OPEFE: Payara Venezuela. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  4. "Payara—Hydrolycus armatus". Acute Angling. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  5. Scott, B.M. (March 2007). "Taming the Untamable—Giant Payara!". TFH Magazine. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  6. Toledo-Piza, M.; N.A. Menezes; G.M. Santos (1999). "Revision of the Neotropical fish genus Hydrolycus (Ostariophysi: Characiformes: Cynodontidae) with the description of two new species". Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters. 10 (3): 255–280.
  7. van der Sleen, P.; J.S. Albert, eds. (2017). Field Guide to the Fishes of the Amazon, Orinoco, and Guianas. Princeton University Press. p. 155. ISBN 978-0691170749.
  8. Layman, C.A..; K.O. Winemiller (2005). "Patterns of habitat segregation among large fishes in a Venezuelan floodplain river". Neotrop. Ichthyol. 3 (1). doi:10.1590/S1679-62252005000100007.
  9. "Subfamily Cynodontinae". OPEFE. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
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