HomeFreshwater aquarium fishOther freshwater fishBiara Biara (Rhaphiodon vulpinus) Scientific name: Rhaphiodon vulpinus Agassiz, 1829 The Biara (Rhaphiodon vulpinus) is a freshwater fish of the family Cynodontidae. Native range: South America, Amazon, Orinoco, and Paran? River basins (Paran?, Paraguay and Uruguay rivers) and rivers of Guyana. BiologyApparently carnivorous, probably ichthyophagous. Maximum length reported to reach 64 cm SL.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameRhaphiodon vulpinusFamilyCynodontidae (Dogtooth characins)OrderCharaciformes (Characins)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length80.0EnvironmentFreshwater; pelagicClimateTropicalDistributionSouth America: Amazon, Orinoco, and Paran? River basins (Paran?, Paraguay and Uruguay rivers) and rivers of Guyana.Conservation status (IUCN)Not EvaluatedThreat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums More other freshwater fishSouth American lungfishLepidosiren paradoxaLined soleAchirus lineatusPumpkinseedLepomis gibbosusShort-tailed pipefishMicrophis brachyurus brachyurusFinescale tigerfishDatnioides microlepisFreshwater garfishXenentodon cancilaSee all other freshwater fish SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026