Hydrolycus armatus
| Hydrolycus armatus | |
|---|---|
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| Adult in Berlin Aquarium, Germany | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Characiformes |
| Family: | Cynodontidae |
| Genus: | Hydrolycus |
| Species: | H. armatus
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| Binomial name | |
| Hydrolycus armatus (Jardine, 1841)
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| Synonyms[2] | |
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Hydrolycus armatus is a species of dogtooth characin found in freshwater of tropical South America.[3] It is sometimes known as the black-tailed payara, payara,[1] silver payara[4], or harm,[5][6][7] a name it shares with the related H. scomberoides and H. tatauaia.
This predatory fish occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade, but it requires a very large tank.[5][8] In its native range it is considered a major gamefish.[7][8]
Distribution and habitat
[edit]This species of fish is found in the Amazon, Orinoco and Essequibo basins in tropical South America.[3][9] They are found in several different freshwater habitats, but often in fast-flowing water.[7][10] They are typically found in deeper waters during the day.[10] 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.[11] At least some populations are migratory.[10]
Description
[edit]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).[5][9][12]
A typically reported maximum total length of this fish is 89 cm (2 ft 11 in),[3] but records show specimens up to 95 cm (3 ft 1 in) in Venezuela[6] and more than 100 cm (3.3 ft) in Brazil.[7] It typically weighs up to 8.5 kg (18 lb 12 oz),[3] but can reach almost 18 kg (40 lb).[7] It has frequently been confused with the generally smaller H. scomberoides.[5][9] H. armatus reaches maturity when at least 30 cm (1 ft) long.[10] Like other dogtooth characins, it has very long pointed canine teeth. In H. armatus these can surpass 10 cm (4 in) in length in large individuals.[4] These are used for spearing their prey, usually other fish.[12]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Salvador, G.N. (2023). "Hydrolycus armatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2023 e.T49829538A91630365. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T49829538A91630365.en. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ Fricke, Ron; Eschmeyer, William N. & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Hydrolycus". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
- ^ a b c d Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Hydrolycus armatus". FishBase. January 2017 version.
- ^ a b Angling, Acute. "Ultimate Guide to Payara Species: Silver, Orange-Tail, and Machete Vampire Fish". acuteangling.com. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
- ^ a b c d "Hydrolycus armatus". SeriouslyFish. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
- ^ a b "Payara Venezuela". OPEFE. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
- ^ a b c d e "Ultimate Guide to Payara Species: Silver, Orange-Tail, and Machete Vampire Fish". Acute Angling. August 11, 2025. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
- ^ a b Scott, B.M. (March 2007). "Taming the Untamable—Giant Payara!". TFH Magazine. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c d 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 978-0-691-17074-9.
- ^ 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. doi:10.1590/S1679-62252005000100007.
- ^ a b "Subfamily Cynodontinae". OPEFE. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2017.