Dorado | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Characiformes |
Family: | Bryconidae |
Genus: | Salminus |
Species: | S. brasiliensis |
Binomial name | |
Salminus brasiliensis (G. Cuvier, 1816) |
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Synonyms | |
Salminus cuvieri Valenciennes, 1850 |
Salminus cuvieri Valenciennes, 1850
Salminus maxillosus Valenciennes, 1850
Salminus orbignyanus Valenciennes, 1850
Salminus brasiliensis (dorado, golden dorado or jaw characin) is a large, predatory characiform freshwater fish found in central and east-central South America. Despite having Salminus in its name, the dorado is not related to any species of salmon, nor to the saltwater fish also called dorado. It is very popular among recreational anglers and supports large commercial fisheries.
"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 Spanish and ouro in Portuguese).
The Portuguese word "dourado" literally means "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. Adults are yellow-golden in color, but immatures are more silvery. Immatures (to a lesser extent adults) resemble Brycon hilarii and Salminus hilarii. It reaches maturity around 37 cm (15 in) long. 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. Females grow considerably larger than males, but otherwise the sexes are similar. It is the largest scaled freshwater fish in the Río de la Plata Basin (only that can surpass it are certain river stingrays and catfish; both scaleless).