The Species

Our Fish Species. Below you will find a list of the commonly encountered fish species during our Fly Fishing Expedition.

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Actinopterygii

Order: Characiformes

Family: Characidae

Genus: Salminus

Species: Maxillosus

Binomial Name: Salminus maxillosus

Others: Salminus cuvieri

Characteristics:

• Referred to as the “Tigre de Rio” or jaguar of the river
• Possess a bright golden coloration, accented by rows of tiny small back dots running along their powerful streamlined bodies
• Fins have a bright red coloration and the caudal fin has a black bar along the middle through the caudal peduncle
• Massive jaws are equipped with rows of razor sharp pointy teeth
• Can reach upwards of 100cm in length and weigh as much as 45lbs (20.5kgs)

Yatorana

Characteristics:

• Schooling fish, but can be found individually along the river shores
• Similar to the Dorado in feeding and habitat requirements
• Is a piscivore- feeding on small invertebrates and baitfish
• Silvery fish, with an olivaceous tinge dorsally and a shade of black on the ventral posterior end of the body
• Built for speed and fast water: will be found in fast flows among structure, runs and heads and tails of deep pools
• Hunt around structure on the shoreline and next to rock drop offs
• Can reach lengths of up to 50cm and up to 5kg (11lbs)

Pacu or Pirapitinga

Characteristics:

• Can range from a silvery gray to yellowish ventrally, and a dark gray to dark silvery dorsal region
• brachypomum will have the distinctive red in the belly
• Large and oval shaped, they are able to negotiate strong currents
• Omnivore: it possesses strong robust teeth and jaws used to crack nuts from falling fruit
• Present around overhanging fruiting trees and deep pools and eddies
• Will go slightly carnivorous during the dry season chasing baitfish, insects, and taking advantage of any carrion
• Measure up to 50cm and weigh anywhere between 6-25lbs

Surubi or Striped Catfish

Characteristics:

• Have black markings as either vertical lines, a maze of lines, or spots on the dorsal side of the body (typically a bluish gray, or darker gray coloration)
• Ventral side of the body is white, showing some accents of pinkish red on the extreme of the lower body fins
• Their rostrum is elongated in a shovel like shape, with eyes located on the upper side
• Very “shark-looking” and actually are voracious roving predators
• Can reach up to 40kgs (88lbs) and 1.5 meters in length, ( commonly in the 10-30kg range)

Muturo (a.k.a Jau)

Characteristics:

• Caught in two color phases: petroleum green (muturo) and bright yellow coloration, when they are referred to as “amarillo”
• Display very faint dark spots along the body, and others are solid color
• Have huge gaping mouths and large plates of tiny sharp teeth used to secure prey
• Heavier than longer, these fish are stocky, and can achieve huge sizes.
• Carnivorous: attacks prey such as smaller Catfishes, Sabalo baitfish, or Boga
• Found in rivers and dwell in the deep holes formed by large eddies or deep holes around rocks and boulders
• Found in stained and clear water rivers
• Can weigh up to 100kg and a reach lengths of up to 2 meters

Sabalo

Characteristics:

• Silvery schooling fish, and main characteristic is their protractile mouth with huge lips that form an oral disc when projected
• Tiny rasping teeth, they scrape off detritus and algae from structure and also pick it up from floating or suspended substrate
• Takes part in huge migrations for spawing in the headwaters of rivers
• Forms the basic prey item: every predatory fish in the river will eat this species at differing stages of its growth
• Can be anywhere from less than a pound to 7kgs.