Dorado | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Characiformes |
Family: | Characidae |
Genus: | Salminus |
Species: | S. brasiliensis |
Binomial name | |
Salminus brasiliensis (G. Cuvier, 1816) | |
Synonyms | |
Salminus cuvieri Valenciennes, 1850 Contents |
Salminus brasiliensis, also known as the golden dorado, dorado, river tiger, dourado, or jaw characin is a large, predatory characiform freshwater fish found in central and east-central South America. [2] Despite having Salminus in its name, the dorado is not related to any species of salmon, [3] nor to the saltwater fish also called dorado. It is very popular among recreational anglers and supports large commercial fisheries. [4]
Dorado, both in the name of the fish and other uses such as the El Dorado legend, originates from the Latin word for gold, auratus (later modified into dauratus in Vulgar Latin, and subsequently oro in Italian and Spanish, and ouro in Portuguese).
The Portuguese word dourado and Spanish dorado both mean 'golden' and is applied to the fish due to its color displaying golden reflections.
The golden dorado has a large head, with powerful jaws filled with sharp teeth. [3] Adults are yellow-golden in color, but juveniles are more silvery. [5] Immatures (to a lesser extent adults) resemble Brycon hilarii and Salminus hilarii . [5] [6] It reaches maturity around 37 cm (15 in) long.[ citation needed ] The average size of the golden dorado is about 3–10 kg (6.6–22.0 lb). The largest recorded size is 1.3 m (51 in) in length and 34 kg (75 lb) in weight. [7] Females grow considerably larger than males, but otherwise the sexes are similar. [5] It is the largest scaled freshwater fish in the Río de la Plata Basin (the only fish that can surpass it in size are certain river stingrays and catfish; both scaleless). [5]
The golden dorado is native to warm freshwater habitats in southern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia and northern Argentina. Here it inhabits the Paraguay (including the Pantanal), Paraná, Uruguay, Chapare, Mamoré and Guaporé River basins, and the drainage of the Lagoa dos Patos. [2] [8] Outside its native range, the golden dorado has been introduced to several southeast Brazilian river basins, notably Doce, Paraíba do Sul, Iguazu and Guaraguaçu. [9]
Other South American river basins hold relatives of this species: S. franciscanus in the São Francisco Basin, S. hilarii in the upper Paraná, Amazon and Orinoco basins, and S. affinis in the Santiago and Magdalena basins in Ecuador and Colombia. [10]
The golden dorado generally prefers water temperatures between 20 and 28 °C (68–82 °F). [3] It is migratory in response to temperature, season and food sources, and moves upstream, typically about 400 km (250 mi), to spawn in the spring and summer. [5] It is generally a solitary species, but migrates in groups. [5] The females reach maturity when 4–5 years old and can lay up to 2 million eggs, [5] which are released near the water surface. [3] Golden dorados can reach an age of more than 15 years. [5]
The golden dorado is the apex predator in its freshwater habitat. [6] They are primarily piscivores, eating a wide variety of fish, but have also been recorded feeding on large insects, crustaceans and small vertebrates (for example, rodents, lizards and birds). [2] [5] One of the adult dorado's favorite prey is the streaked prochilod (Prochilodus lineatus), a species of schooling fish that also is migratory. [3]
In the larval stage, golden dorados feed on plankton. [3] As they grow larger, they switch to insects and small fish. [3] At up to 30 cm (12 in) long, juveniles are aggressive mimics of Brycon hilarii in both general shape and color, often staying near schools of this frugivorous species to be able to surprise smaller prey fish such as Astyanax and Moenkhausia tetras. [6] In contrast, adult dorados have been known to eat Brycon hilarii. [6]
The golden dorado has declined because of overfishing and dams, which restrict its breeding migration. [5] It is listed as a threatened species in Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil [5] and in Paraguay; in the latter country, a five-year fishing ban was put into effect. [11]
In contrast, the golden dorado has been introduced for fishing to several rivers outside its native range. [9] Being a large highly predatory species, this represents a serious threat to the native fish in these rivers. [9]
This section includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations .(November 2014) |
This section is written like a manual or guide.(November 2014) |
The golden dorado is highly sought-after by anglers, both for its meat and its fighting ability. From the 2000s onwards, the dorado has been increasingly recognized as a fly-fishing targeted species. Its aggressive behavior and initiative taking flies, paired with great fight energy, frequently going airborne in the attempt to loosen itself from the hook, make this species a true game fish.
This fish usually takes flies both on the surface and sub-surface; anglers tend to make use of heavier fly tackle (#6 and up, reaching #12 in some places) for placing bulky flies which are seen to be more attractive to the dorado.
Also often used by fly fishermen are intermediate and sinking-tip fly lines once the species feeds on fast currents. The dorado is an avid hunter but can be a lazy chaser. Anglers make use of either very slow or very fast movement of the flies to spark attacks by the dorado, depending on the region and season, denoting gregarious behavior and an ambush feeding strategy. It does not move after prey and attacks passing-by fish or reacts only when the prey make a deliberate attempt to escape.
Shiny, flashy material is very attractive to this fish, which led to the development of flies with much shiny, colorful material, or in opposition, dark or black ones, suggesting lesser visual accuracy of the species.
Fly fishermen use minnow-like flies, streamers and other fish-imitating flies, but the fish's preference for large flies that swim below the surface led to the creation of a specific pattern – the Andino Deceiver.
Due to the dorado's very sharp teeth, anglers use steel wire or fluorocarbon monofilament bite tippets to prevent the fish from cutting the line.
The common chub, also known as the European chub or simply chub, is a species of European freshwater ray-finned fish in the carp family Cyprinidae, that frequents both slow and moderate rivers, as well as canals, lakes and still waterbodies of various kinds.
Characidae, the characids or characins, is a family of freshwater subtropical and tropical fish belonging to the order Characiformes. The name "characins" is an historical one, but scientists today tend to prefer "characids" to reflect their status as a, by and large, monophyletic group. To arrive there, this family has undergone much systematic and taxonomic change. Among those fishes remaining in the Characidae currently are the tetras, comprising the very similar genera Hemigrammus and Hyphessobrycon, as well as a few related forms, such as the cave and neon tetras. Fish of this family are important as food in several regions, and also constitute a large percentage of captive freshwater aquarium fish species.
The silver arowana is a South American freshwater bony fish of the family Osteoglossidae. Silver arowanas are sometimes kept in aquariums, but they are predatory and require a very large tank.
The Iguazu River, also called Rio Iguassu, is a river in Brazil and Argentina. It is an important tributary of the Paraná River. The Iguazu River is 1,320 kilometres (820 mi) long, with a drainage basin of 62,000 km2 (24,000 sq mi).
The São Francisco River is a large river in Brazil. With a length of 2,914 kilometres (1,811 mi), it is the longest river that runs entirely in Brazilian territory, and the fourth longest in South America and overall in Brazil. It used to be known as the Opara by the indigenous people before colonisation, and is today also known as "Velho Chico".
The black tetra, also known as the black skirt tetra, petticoat tetra, high-fin black skirt tetra, black widow tetra and blackamoor, is a freshwater fish of the characin family (Characidae).
The Paraguay River is a major river in south-central South America, running through Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina. It flows about 2,695 kilometres (1,675 mi) from its headwaters in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso to its confluence with the Paraná River north of Corrientes and Resistencia.
The Paraíba do Sul, or simply termed Paraíba, is a river in southeast Brazil. It flows 1,137 km (706 mi) west to northeast from its farthest source at the source of the river Paraitinga to the sea near Campos dos Goytacazes. The river receives its name when it meets the river Paraibuna at the Paraibuna dam.
Prochilodus lineatus, the streaked prochilod, is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Prochilodontidae. It is native to the Paraná—Paraguay and Paraíba do Sul river basins in South America. It performs long breeding migrations and supports very important fisheries.
Dorado is a southern constellation.
Guaporé River is a river in western Brazil and northeastern Bolivia. It is 1,260 km (780 mi) long; 920 km (570 mi) of the river forms the border between Brazil and Bolivia.
Dourado may refer to:
The ocellate river stingray, also known as the peacock-eye stingray or black river stingray, is a species of freshwater stingray in the family Potamotrygonidae. It was the first species to be described in the family and is also the most widespread, ranging throughout much of the Río de la Plata, Amazon, Mearim and Orinoco basins in tropical and subtropical South America. It is sometimes kept in aquaria.
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Piracema is the name given to the period of the year when fish within the Paraguay River drainage basin―which includes the Pantanal region in the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul―reproduce.
Salminus, popularly known as dorado or dourado, is a genus of relatively large, predatory freshwater fish from the family Characidae. They are native to large tropical and subtropical rivers in South America, and undertake migrations during the rainy season to spawn. They are very popular among recreational anglers and also support important commercial fisheries.
Heiko Bleher is a German researcher, author, photographer, and filmmaker. He is best known in the scientific community for his contribution to the exploration of fresh and brackish water habitats worldwide. He has discovered numerous species of fish and aquatic plant, several of which carry his name or are named in honor of Bleher's family.
Potamotrygon falkneri, the largespot river stingray or reticulated freshwater stingray, is a species of freshwater stingray in the family Potamotrygonidae from tropical and subtropical South America. It is sometimes seen in the aquarium trade, but requires a very large tank.
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