Salminus
Temporal range: Miocene to present
Salminus hilarii
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Characiformes
Family: Characidae
Subfamily: Salmininae
Genus: Salminus
Agassiz, 1829
Species

4, see text

Salminus, popularly known as dorado or dourado, is a genus of relatively large (up to 1.3–1.4 m or 4.3–4.6 ft long[1][2]), predatory freshwater fish from the family Characidae. They are native to large tropical and subtropical rivers in South America, and undertake migrations during the rainy season to spawn.[3] They are very popular among recreational anglers and also support important commercial fisheries.[3]

Species

Significant taxonomic confusion has surrounded this genus, and until a review in 1990, several additional species were recognised (most of these are junior synonyms of S. brasiliensis).[4] Although known for more than 150 years, S. franciscanus was only scientifically described in 2007.[3] Today, four extant (living) species are recognised:[5]

A fifth extinct species is only known from Miocene fossil remains:

References

  1. ^ Fishing World-records: Salminus brasiliensis. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  2. ^ Fishing World-records: Salminus franciscanus. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  3. ^ a b c Lima, F. C. T., and H. A. Britski (2007). Salminus franciscanus, a new species from the rio São Francisco basin, Brazil (Ostariophysi: Characiformes: Characidae) Neotrop. Ichthyol. 5(3).
  4. ^ Géry, J. and L. Lauzanne (1990). Les types des espèces du genre Salminus Agassiz, 1829 (Ostariophysi, Characidae) du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle de Paris. Cybium 14(2): 113-124.
  5. ^ Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2011). Species of Salminus in FishBase. October 2011 version.


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