Species learning profile

Black pacu

Colossoma macropomum

Black pacu (Colossoma macropomum) is a freshwater fish associated with river habitat in South America. Powerful broad teeth crush nuts and seeds dropped by flooded forests.

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SungaiSerrasalmidae

At a glance

Perairan
Air tawar
Habitat
Sungai
Panjang maksimum
108 cm
Sebaran
Amerika Selatan
Famili
Serrasalmidae
Ordo
Characiformes

Observe

How to identify Black pacu

  • Powerful broad teeth crush nuts and seeds dropped by flooded forests.
  • Guide context: river habitat in South America.
  • Reported maximum length: 108 cm — capable of growing longer than many people are tall. Maximum is not the same as typical adult size.

Field note: color, size, and markings can change with age, sex, season, depth, and lighting. Use several traits together.

Place and pattern

Where it lives—and how it behaves

Habitat and range

This species is associated with river habitat across South America. Flow, seasonal floods, connected side channels, and access to spawning reaches all shape its river habitat.

Behavior

Follows seasonal floods into forests

Food-web connections

What it eats and why it matters

Diet

Fruit, seeds, insects, and zooplankton.

Ecological role

Disperses seeds through Amazon floodplains.

Remember

One fact worth keeping

Black pacu dapat tumbuh hingga sekitar 108 cm dan sering ditemukan di sekitar Sungai.

Think like a conservationist

A conservation lens

River fish depend on connected water. Dams, blocked migrations, pollution, and altered flow can matter even when the channel still looks wet.

This habitat lens is not a current population-status assessment. Status can differ among regions and change as new assessments are published; follow the reference links and local fisheries or wildlife agencies for current decisions.

Recall

Quick knowledge check

Which habitat is most closely associated with Black pacu in this guide?

Keep exploring

References and further reading

Fishdle summarizes stable identification and ecology concepts in plain language. Taxonomy and population knowledge continue to change, so use primary assessments and regional authorities for conservation or management decisions.

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