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 | |
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Adult in Berlin Aquarium, Germany | |
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]
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]
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).[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]
Taxon identifiers |
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