Biara

This article is about a species and genus of fish. For the genus of plants, see Rhaphiodon echinus. For the village in Iran, see Biara, Iran.

Biara
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Characiformes
Suborder:	Characoidei
Family:	Cynodontidae
Genus:	Rhaphiodon Agassiz, 1829
Species:	R. vulpinus
Binomial name
Rhaphiodon vulpinus Spix & Agassiz, 1829

Biara aka Machete Payara caught in the Amazon on a fishing expedition

The biara (Rhaphiodon vulpinus), also known at Machete Payara ^[2] is a South American piscivorous fish in the dogtooth characin family. It belongs to the monotypic genus Rhaphiodon, although some minor differences in morphometrics and colour are known from across its large range. ^{[3] [4]} It is found in the Amazon, Orinoco, and Río de la Plata Basins, as well as rivers of the Guianas. ^[5] It occurs in a wide range of freshwater habitats such as main river channels, flooded forests, lakes and reservoirs. ^{[4] [6]} Some populations are migratory. ^[4]

Description

From the Acre River, Brazil

It reaches up to 2.1 kg (4 lb 10 oz) in weight. ^[5] Although it reportedly can reach up to 80 cm (2 ft 7 in) in standard length, ^[5] the largest confirmed were 63–64 cm (about 2 ft 1 in) ^{[7] [8]} Like other dogtooth characins, the biara has very long pointed canine teeth, but it is easily separated from its relatives by its very elongated and streamlined body shape. ^[3]

Diet

Like its relatives, the biara feeds almost entirely on other fish, which are speared by the long canines. ^[6] In a study of the stomach content of 100 biaras, the majority were empty. The remaining had prey fish that were 30–50% of the length of the biara itself, and only a single contained another prey type, a mayfly larvae. ^[6]

Reproduction

In a study observing the reproductive biology of the biara species in the Tocantins River of Brazil, it was found that the prime reproductive period takes place in November. The high-water conditions of the environment correlate to the increase of reproductive rate. ^[9]

Aquarium trade

The biara occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade, but it requires a very large tank. ^[4]

References

1. Salvador, G.N. (2023). "Rhaphiodon vulpinus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2023: e.T187160A1824019. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T187160A1824019.en . Retrieved 25 June 2024.
2. Angling, Acute (August 11, 2025). "Ultimate Guide to Payara Species: Silver, Orange-Tail, and Machete Vampire Fish". acuteangling.com. Retrieved 2025-08-28.
3. "Rhaphiodon". OPEFE. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
4. "Rhaphiodon vulpinus". SeriouslyFish. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
5. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Rhaphiodon vulpinus". FishBase .
6. Goulding, M (1980). The Fishes and the Forest: Explorations in Amazonian Natural History. University of California Press. pp. 184–185. ISBN   0-520-04131-3.
7. 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   978-0691170749.
8. Benedito-Cecilio, E.; A.A. Agostinho; R.C.C.-M. Velho (1997). "Length-weight relationship of fishes caught in the Itaipu Reservoir, Paraná, Brazil". Naga ICLARM Q. 20 (3/4): 57–61.
9. Andréa L. Neuberger; Elineide E. Marques; Carlos S. Agostinho; Rafael J. de Oliveira (2007). "Reproductive Biology of Rhaphiodon vulpinus (Ostariophysi: Cynodontidae) in the Tocantins River Basin, Brazil". Neotropical Ichthyology. 5 (4): 479–484. doi: 10.1590/S1679-62252007000400007 – via Science Citation Index (SCI).