ANIMALS – FISHES – CHARACINS – TIGER FISH (HOPLIAS MALABARICUS)

Animals - Fishes - Catfishes

Tiger Fish (Hoplias malabaricus)

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Class : Actinopterygii
Order : Characiformes
Family : Erythrinidae
Genus : Hoplias
Species : H. Malabaricus

Description:

Hoplias malabaricus, also known as the Wolf Fish, Tiger Fish or Trahira, is a predatory Central and South American freshwater ray finned fish of the Characin family Erythrinidae.

The maximum length for this species is 55 cm and the maximum weight is 7.97 kg.

Like other members of the genus Hoplias this species has a cylindrical body shape with a large mouth equipped with prominent teeth. The dog-like teeth have given it some of its common names. Coloration is highly variable but is usually grey-brown with darker vertical stripes or a single horizontal stripe.

Found in most river systems in the following countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Occurs in a wide range of freshwater habitats from clear, fast flowing, upland streams, to the slow turbid lowland waters, canals, irrigation and drainage ditches, and ponds and other still waters. Spends the daylight hours resting in vegetation and is most active during the night. Adults are ambush predators of fish; while juveniles prey consists of crustacean and other invertebrate prey. This species spawns in pits located in shallow water and the males guard the nests even after the eggs have hatched.

Binomial Name:

Name : Hoplias malabaricus
Taxonomist : Marcus Elieser Bloch (Ansbach - Germany)
Year : 1794
Subspecies : None, or not data available
Synonyms : None, or not data available

Conservation Status by IUCN:

Status : Not Evaluated, or not data available

Philatelic Issues

2005 – Uruguay – Stamp 3 of 4, from River Fishes Series

Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: November 22nd, 2005
Printed: 15.000 Copies
Type: Stamp from Series of 4 Stamps
Value: UYP 16

Stamp: Rectangular
Size: 39 mm. x 27 mm.
Perforation: Circular
Gum: Water Activated