Species of fish
Megaleporinus obtusidens
is a
South American
species of
headstander
that inhabits the basins of the
Parana River
and the
Rio de la Plata
, the
Uruguay River
, and the
Sao Francisco River
(including minor rivers and tributaries like the
Bermejo
,
Pilcomayo
,
Sali
,
Juramento
,
Dulce
, and
Uniguay
). It may be found in the main courses and streams, as well as in lakes and lagoons; it often shelters among stones and aquatic vegetation.
In
Argentina
and
Uruguay
its common name is
boga
(sometimes
augmentative
bogon
); in
Brazil
it is known as
piapara
. There is also a variant called
piava
and another called
tres puntos
("three dots"). This species is also known by the technical synonym
Curimatus obtusidens
. The common name
boga
is applied to many other species of fish, usually unrelated to this one.
Megaleporinus obtusidens
has an elongated wide body, with a comparatively small head and a blunt mouth; its teeth are reminiscent of the
incisors
of
Lagomorpha
, whence the name of the
genus
(
leporinus
, "
hare
-like", as in
Leporidae
). Its basic colour is a light greenish-gray, with three rounded dark spots in mid-flank, which may not be visible in some specimens. In young individuals there are also eight broad vertical streaks, joined in the back and coming down to the middle line. The back, as usual in this habitat, is darker than the belly.
The length and weight of the individuals are extremely variable according to the area, probably influenced by different feeding habits, opportunities and exploitation, as well as local sub-specific variants. In the Rio de la Plata
L. obtusidens
is reported as weighing an average of 2 kg, with a maximum of 4 kg; in the upper course of the Parana River it is about 4.5 kg; and in the middle course of the Parana there are specimens of
boga
over 6 kg (with exceptionally developed ones over 8 kg). Adult individuals are reported between 40 and 80 cm long. The larger fish probably belong to other species of
Leporinus
(either
L. friderici
, which is still not very well known, or
Megaleporinus macrocephalus
, only recently classified as a separate species).
Megaleporinus obtusidens
is an
omnivore
: it eats water plants,
crabs
and river
snails
. However, it prefers grain and
seeds
(
wheat
and
maize
), and it often gathers in large banks near ports, where cargo ships drop grains into the water. It is preyed upon by larger fish like the
surubi
and the
dorado
. It prefers warm waters and reproduces in spring and summer, starting at 2 years of age.
References
[
edit
]