![]() It’s assumed that they only come together for mating and migrating.Ĭaptive payaras take these antisocial tendencies up to 11. They’ve been known to chase off medium- and large-sized fish that they don’t want to eat just so the water will be clear for the fish that they do want to consume.Īs for socialization, they might tolerate others of their kind in small groups, but they’re mostly solitary creatures. In the wild, payaras are ferocious hunters that are constantly on the prowl for their next meal, and they don’t let anything get in the way of dinnertime. They’re often mistaken for one another, but there are subtle differences in fin and tail colors that can distinguish them. Like the hydrolycus scomberoides, all of these fish have silver bodies and pointed canine teeth. The payara doesn’t have any subspecies, but it does share a genus with several other variations of vampire fish: Species: Hydrolycus scomberoides (the payara)ĩ.Genus: Hydrolycus (a specific type of vampire tetra).Order: Characiformes (piranhas, tetras). ![]() Here’s the official family tree for payaras: It’s actually Greek rather than Latin! The first word comes from “hydro” (water) and “lykos” (wolf), and the second word is derived from “skombros” (tuna, mackerel) paired with the suffix “-oides” (similar to). The scientific name of the payara is hydrolycus scomberoides. It measured 3.5 feet and weighed 39.4 pounds. What was the size of the biggest payara in the world?Īccording to the International Game Fish Association, the record-holder for the biggest payara in the world was a specimen caught in Venezuela in 1996. It’s a trade-off that you’ll have to consider if you’re thinking about owning a payara as a pet. They’re slightly less aggressive than their wild cousins, but they also have shorter lifespans. When raised in aquariums, payaras rarely exceed 12 inches and 5 – 10 pounds. The largest one on record came in at 40 lbs.Ĭaptivity is another story. They measure anywhere from 2 – 3 feet long, and their weight is around 10 – 35 pounds. In the wild, payaras can get pretty large. These darker markings can be the only way to tell them apart from other members of their genus. ![]() They have fan-shaped caudal fins that help them swim in choppy currents and rapids, and bony faces which hide large gills.Ĭolor-wise, vampire fish are almost always silver or silver-gray with darker hints around their fins and tails. You’ll often find it in churning rivers and the bottoms of waterfalls.Īs for the rest of their build, they’re streamlined for power and speed. It likes clear, fast-moving water with lots of currents. The vampire fish makes its home in the Amazon basin of South America. The payara hasn’t been evaluated by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), so there’s no official word on its extinction status. “Vampire fish” and “wolf fish” are used to describe several other fearsome species as well. “Dogtooth” can be applied to many tetra that have prominent, outward-facing teeth. “Characin” and “tetra” are both classifications in the fish world. Not surprisingly, most involve their teeth: It has long, curved fangs that jut out from its lower jaw. The payara is a type of carnivorous fish that lives in the Amazon basin. Where it lives in Ecuador: Amazon basin (eastern Ecuador).Physical features: Silver scales, spiked teeth and two long fangs that jut upwards from the lower jaw.Weight: 10 – 35 pounds (wild), 5 – 10 pounds (captivity).Length: 2 – 3 feet (wild), 12 inches (captivity).Range: Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela.If you’d like to learn more about this scary, one-of-a-kind species, here are 29 payara facts that will keep you awake at night. ![]() Its nicknames are “saber-toothed tiger fish” and “water wolf.” It literally eats piranhas for breakfast. Not only does it have a mysterious reputation due to a lack of research on the species, but it also has an unforgettable appearance that includes two gigantic fangs. The payara is one of the craziest fish that you’ll find in South America. Some of them are vampire fish that absolutely deserve their reputation. Some of them are ugly but harmless creatures that don’t deserve their reputation. There are a lot of dark, creepy things that live below the water’s surface. The vampire fish (also known as payara fish) live in the Amazon basin.Ģ9 Vampire Fish Facts: Meet Amazon’s Payara Curious about the mysterious vampire fish? In this post, you’ll learn 29 vampire fish facts, including diet, size, habitat, and more (you’ll also see some pretty great photos). ![]()
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