Hydrolycus armatus explained

Hydrolycus armatus is a species of dogtooth characin found in freshwater of tropical South America. It is sometimes known as harm, or payara,[1] [2] [3] 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.[1] [4] In its native range it is considered a major gamefish.[3] [4]

Distribution and habitat

This species of fish is found in the Amazon, Orinoco and Essequibo basins in tropical South America.[5] They are found in several different freshwater habitats, but often in fast-flowing water.[3] [6] They are typically found in deeper waters during the day.[6] The species is locally common; in a major study of a Venezuelan floodplain river, of the collected fish were H. armatus, and the species was particularly common in creeks and lagoons.[7] At least some populations are migratory.[6]

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).[1] [5] [8]

A typically reported maximum total length of this fish is, but records show specimens up to in Venezuela[2] and more than in Brazil.[3] It typically weighs up to, but can reach almost .[3] It has frequently been confused with the generally smaller H. scomberoides.[1] [5] H. armatus reaches maturity when at least long.[6] Like other dogtooth characins, it has very long pointed canine teeth. In H. armatus these can surpass in length in large individuals.[2] These are used for spearing their prey, usually other fish.[8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: SeriouslyFish . Hydrolycus armatus . 13 January 2017.
  2. Web site: OPEFE . Payara Venezuela . 13 January 2017.
  3. Web site: Payara—Hydrolycus armatus . Acute Angling . 19 October 2017 .
  4. Web site: Scott, B.M. . Taming the Untamable—Giant Payara! . TFH Magazine . March 2007 . 19 October 2017 .
  5. 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 .
  6. Book: van der Sleen, P. . J.S. Albert . 2017 . Field Guide to the Fishes of the Amazon, Orinoco, and Guianas . Princeton University Press . 155 . 978-0691170749 .
  7. Layman, C.A.. . K.O. Winemiller . 2005 . Patterns of habitat segregation among large fishes in a Venezuelan floodplain river . Neotrop. Ichthyol. . 3 . 1 . 111–117 . 10.1590/S1679-62252005000100007 . free .
  8. Web site: Subfamily Cynodontinae . OPEFE . 19 October 2017.