Scientific Name
Colossoma macropomum

Common Name
Cachama

Biology
This species is usually solitary. Adults stay in flooded forests during first 5 months of flooding and consume but fruits and grains. Young and juveniles live in black waters of flood plains until their sexual maturity. Feeds on zooplankton, insects, snails and decaying plants (Ref. 32894). Used in aquaculture because it can live in mineral poor waters and is very resistant to diseases. Marketed fresh and frozen (Ref. 9987).

Classification

Classified By

Cuvier, 1816

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Characins (Characiformes)

Family

Characins (Characidae)

Distribution

Region

South America

Distribution

South America: Amazon and Orinoco basins as wild form; pisciculture form largely distributed in South America.

Range

15°S - 35°S

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

22 °C

Water Temperature To

28 °C

Depth From - meters

5 m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Freshwater; ; pH range: 5.0 - 7.8; dH range: ? - 20 benthopelagic; potamodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 5 - ? m

Trophic Level

2.02 s.e. 0.08 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

False

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

108 cm

Common Length

70.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 1.0000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; aquaculture: commercial; aquarium: public aquariums

Vulnerability

Moderate to high vulnerability (47 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.23; Fec=7,000-300,000)

Threat To Humans

Traumatogenic

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated