| Hoplias curupira | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| 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. [3] 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. [4]
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). [5]
Hoplias curupire is found in large rivers and igarapés, [6] i.e. routes that are navigable by canoes. [7]
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 (16 in) but wild specimens have been reported at up to 75 cm (30 in) in length. [5]
Like other members of the genus Hoplias, H. curupira is an ambush predator on various insects, larvae, small fishes, shrimps, worms and fruits [6] and is more diurnal than its cogeners. They appear to live as pairs, defending a territory together. [8]
Harttia is a genus of armored catfishes native to South America.
Neoplecostomus is a genus of fish in the family Loricariidae native to South America. Neoplecostomus can be distinguished from all other loricariids by a modified shield of small plates on the abdomen with posteriorly directed odontodes; the shield appears to act as a holdfast. The color pattern is generally mottled brown with the abdomen white. The head is long, rounded, and shovel-shaped. The fin spines are weak. They range from about 8 to 11 cm (3.1–4.3 in) SL. The species of Neoplecostomus live in fast-flowing water.
Hoplias aimara, also known as anjumara, traíra, trahira, manjuma, anjoemara and giant 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 (8.0 in).
Hoplias lacerdae is a predatory freshwater characin fish from South America. They are commonly known are trairão in Brazilian Portuguese.
Hoplias microcephalus is a species of trahiras. It is a tropical, benthopelagic freshwater fish which is known to inhabit the São Francisco River in Brazil. Males can reach a maximum length of 35.6 cm (14.0 in).
Hoplias microlepis is a species of trahira found in Central and South America.
Erythrinus erythrinus, the red wolf fish, is a relatively small species of trahira from freshwater habitats in South America.
Anostomus ternetzi, the red mouth headstander, is a fish in the family Anostomidae.
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).
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 anostomid fish. It is found in the Rio Negro, Aleixo Lake, and the central Amazon basin in Brazil.
Leporinus santosi is a species of fish in the family Anostomidae. It is found in the lower Tocantins River in Pará state, Brazil.
Leporinus sidlauskasi is a species of fish in the family Anostomidae. It is found in the lower Tocantins River in Pará State, Brazil.
Leporinus venerei is a species of anostomid fish. It is endemic to Brazil and known only from the Araguaia River basin.
Leporinus britskii is a species of fish in the family Anostomidae. It is found in the Rio Tapajós and the Rio Jari drainages in Brazil.
Hypostomus delimai is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is native to South America, where it occurs in the basins of the Araguaia River and the Tocantins River in Brazil. It is typically found in areas with turbid water, riparian vegetation, and a substrate composed of rocks and sand. It is known to be sympatric with other species of Hypostomus, including H. faveolus and H. pyrineusi, as well as species of Aphanotorulus. The species reaches 25.3 cm in standard length and is believed to be a facultative air-breather.
