Hydrolycus tatauaia

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Hydrolycus tatauaia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Characiformes
Family: Cynodontidae
Genus: Hydrolycus
Species:
H. tatauaia
Binomial name
Hydrolycus tatauaia
Hydrolycus tatauaia aka Orange-Tail Payara
Orange-Tail Payara from the Rio Aripuanã

Hydrolycus tatauaia, the orange-tail payara,[2] is a species of dogtooth characin found in the Amazon, Orinoco and Essequibo basins in tropical South America.[3][4] Adults mainly occur in deep and/or fast-flowing rivers.[5] It is migratory, moving upstream to breed in November–April.[6]

Like other Hydrolycus species, H. tatauaia has long pointed canine teeth that are used to spear their prey, generally smaller fish.[6] The body and head are silvery, and there is a vertically elongated dark spot behind the opercle. The tail is reddish to orange.[4][6][7] The species name tatauaia is of Tupi origin and means "fire tail".[4][2] It reaches up to 59 cm (1 ft 11 in) in total length and 2.7 kg (5 lb 15 oz) in weight.[3]

This predatory fish occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade, but it requires a very large tank.[6]

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 Angling, Acute (August 11, 2025). "Ultimate Guide to Payara Species: Silver, Orange-Tail, and Machete Vampire Fish". acuteangling.com. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
  3. ^ a b Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Hydrolycus tatauaia". FishBase. October 2017 version.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ a b c d "Hydrolycus tatauaia". SeriouslyFish. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  7. ^ "Subfamily Cynodontinae". OPEFE. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2017.