Tucunarés

Length Category:  Small (<40 cm)

Trophic Level:  Predator-fish

Migratory Pattern:  Local (<100 km)

Spawning Period:  All periods

Export Market:  National (outside Amazon)

Market Status:  First class

Catch Distribution:

Tucunaré potential yield was estimated to be approximately 4,300 tons. Nearly half of the potential catch comes from the Central Amazon (52%), followed by the Tocantins (27%), Peruvian Amazon (8%), and Estuary (6%) regions. A large part of the Central Amazon catch, however, comes from the large Balbina Dam reservoir near Manaus.

Natural History Notes:

There are three to four species in the tucunaré commercial fish group. All are voracious piscivores that live mostly in quiet waters. Some species, however, can be common in beach waters of river channels during the low water period. Tucunarés are also the most important sport fishing species because of their beauty and fighting abilities. There is some evidence that in floodplain areas that have been heavily exploited for several decades, tucunaré have begun to mature at smaller sizes.