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| Hoplias curupira | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Characiformes |
| Family: | Erythrinidae |
| Genus: | Hoplias |
| Species: | H. curupira |
| Binomial name | |
| Hoplias curupira | |
Hoplias curupira, also known as the black wolf-fish, has a wide distribution in the Amazon basin but was described as recently as 2009.
Hoplias curupira was first formally described in 2009 by the Brazilian zoologists Osvaldo Takeshi Oyakawa & George Mendes Taliaferro Mattox with the type locality given as the Rio Itacaiúas, Caldeirão, Serra dos Carajás, Tocantins basin, Pará State in Brazil. [2] The fish is named after Curupira, a mythical creature of Brazilian folklore that protects the forest and its inhabitants, sometimes taking the form of a small Amerindian child whose feet are turned backwards, making it difficult to follow its tracks. [3]
Hoplias curupira has an extensive distribution across the north of South America, Venezuela, Guyana, Surinam and Brazil in the Orinoco, Rio Negro (Amazon) and its tributaries, Rio Tocantins, Rio Xingu and Rio Negro (Amazon). [4]
Hoplias curupire is found in large rivers and igarapés, [5] i.e. routes that are navigable by canoes. [6]
Hoplias curupira are medium-sized but relatively bulky in build compared to other Hoplias with a blunt head and broad body. The colour of the fish changes according to mood from a light brown patterning to an almost solid black colouring leading to the common English name of Black Wolf-fish. In captivity the average size is 40 cm but wild specimens have been reported at up to 75 cm in length. [4]
Like other members of the genus Hoplias, H. curupira is an ambush predator on various insects, larvae, small fishes, shrimps, worms and fruits [5] and is more diurnal than its cogeners. They appear to live as pairs, defending a territory together. [7]
Harttia is a genus of armored catfishes native to South America.
Myloplus schomburgkii, also known as the Disk tetra, Disk pacu, Black-ear pacu, Black-band myleus or Black-barred myleus is a species of serrasalmid with a black bar on its side. This species is found in the middle and lower Amazon River basin, Nanay River, upper Orinoco River basin in Brazil, Peru, Venezuela and possibly in Suriname.
Hoplias aimara, also known as anjumara, traíra, trahira, manjuma, anjoemara and wolf fish, is a species of freshwater fish found in the rivers of South America. In Amazonia, the native populations are concerned by high levels of mercury contamination which have been linked to the consumption of contaminated fish. H. aimara is a good bioindicator of such contamination.
Hoplias is a genus of fish in the family Erythrinidae found in Central and South America.
Hoplias australis is a predatory freshwater characin fish of the southern Neotropics.
Hoplias brasiliensis is a species of trahiras. It is a benthopelagic, tropical freshwater fish which is known from coastal rivers in northeastern Brazil, including the Paraguaçu River in Bahia, the Pardo River, the Jequitinhonha River in Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo, and the Contas River. Male H. brasiliensis can reach a maximum length of 20.3 centimetres.
Hoplias lacerdae is a predatory freshwater characin fish from South America. The are commonly known are trairão in Brazilian Portuguese.
Metynnis lippincottianus, commonly known as the spotted silver dollar, is a species of serrasalmid native to the Brazilian Amazon and multiple rivers of French Guiana. An average M. lippincottianus can grow to a length of 13 cm.
Myloplus arnoldi is a medium to large omnivorous fish of the family Serrasalmidae from South America, where it is found in the Amazon, Xingu and Tocantins River basins. It can grow to a length of 33 cm (13 in). They are also called the silver dollar and are one of the fish referred to as "silver dollars". These fish are capable of delivering serious bites to humans.
Myloplus lucienae is a medium to large omnivorous fish of the family Serrasalmidae from Brazil. It and can grow to a length of 33.8 cm (13.3 in).
Myloplus zorroi is a medium to large omnivorous fish of the family Serrasalmidae from Brazil.
Bryconexodon juruenae is a species of characins endemic to Brazil. It is found in the upper Tapajós River basin in Brazil. This species reaches a length of 12.5 cm (4.9 in).
Acnodon normani, the sheep-pacu, is a species of serrasalmids found in South America. It is found in the Amazon, the Xingu and Tocantins River basins in Brazil. This species reaches a length of 19.9 cm (7.8 in).
Harttia absaberi is a species of armored catfish where it is found in the upper rio Paraná drainage in Brazil.
Leporinus nattereri is a species of Leporinus found in the Rio Negro, Aleixo Lake, and the central Amazon basin in Brazil in South America.
Leporinus vanzoi is a species of anostomid fish. It is endemic to Brazil and found in the Tapajós. It can grow to 11.8 cm (4.6 in) standard length.
Leporinus santosi is a species of Leporinus found in the lower Rio Tocantins in Pará State, Brazil in South America. This species can reach a length of 13.5 centimetres (5.3 in) SL.
Leporinus sidlauskasi is a species of fish in the genus Leporinus, it is found in the lower Rio Tocantins in Pará State, Brazil in South America.
Leporinus venerei is a species of anostomid fish. It is endemic to Brazil and known only from the Araguaia River basin. This species can reach a length of 13.6 centimetres (5.4 in) SL.
Leporinus britskii is a species of Leporinus found in the Rio Tapajós and the Rio Jari drainages in Brazil in South America. This species can reach a length of 10.0 centimetres (3.9 in) SL.