Hydrolycus tatauaia is a species of dogtooth characin found in the Amazon, Orinoco and Essequibo basins in tropical South America.[2][3] Adults mainly occur in deep and/or fast-flowing rivers.[4] It is migratory, moving upstream to breed in November–April.[5]

Hydrolycus tatauaia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Characiformes
Family: Cynodontidae
Genus: Hydrolycus
Species:
H. tatauaia
Binomial name
Hydrolycus tatauaia

Like other Hydrolycus species, H. tatauaia has long pointed canine teeth that are used to spear their prey, generally smaller fish.[5] The body and head are silvery, and there is a vertically elongated dark spot behind the opercle. The tail is reddish to orange.[3][5][6] The species name tatauaia is of Tupi origin and means "fire tail".[3][7] It reaches up to 59 cm (1 ft 11 in) in total length and 2.7 kg (5 lb 15 oz) in weight.[2]

This predatory fish occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade, but it requires a very large tank.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Salvador, G.N. (2023). "Hydrolycus tatauaia". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2023: e.T85281797A85281801. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T85281797A85281801.en. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  2. ^ a b Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2017). "Hydrolycus tatauaia" in FishBase. October 2017 version.
  3. ^ a b c 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.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ a b c d "Hydrolycus tatauaia". SeriouslyFish. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  6. ^ "Subfamily Cynodontinae". OPEFE. Retrieved 19 October 2017.[dead link]
  7. ^ "Payara—Hydrolycus tatauaia". Acute Angling. Retrieved 19 October 2017.