Hydrolycus armatus
| Hydrolycus armatus | |
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| Species: | H. armatus
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| Binomial name | |
| Hydrolycus armatus (Jardine, 1841)
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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] 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.[2]
Distribution and habitat
This species of fish is found in the Amazon and Orinoco River basins as well a rivers in Guyana.[1]
Description
A typically reported maximum size of this fish is 8.5 kg (19 lb) in weight and 89 cm (2.92 ft) in length,[1] but records from Venezuela show specimens up to 95 cm (3.12 ft).[3] It has frequently been confused with the generally smaller H. scomberoides.[2] Like other dogtooth characins, H. armatus has very long pointed canine teeth that can surpass 5 cm (2.0 in) in length in large individuals.[3] These are used for spearing their prey, usually other fish.[4]
References
- ^ a b c Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Hydrolycus armatus". FishBase. January 2017 version.
- ^ a b c SeriouslyFish: Hydrolycus armatus. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
- ^ a b c OPEFE: Payara Venezuela. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
- ^ OPEFE: Hydrolycus. Retrieved 13 January 2017.