Brazil country information

Common names: Carapó, Carapo, Ituí
Occurrence: native
Salinity: freshwater
Abundance: scarce (very unlikely) | Ref: Silvano, R.A.M. and A. Begossi, 2001
Importance: subsistence fisheries | Ref: Silvano, R.A.M. and A. Begossi, 2001
Aquaculture: | Ref:
Regulations: | Ref:
Uses: live export: yes;
Comments: Recorded from the Pardo River (Ref. 27745), Caracu and Sao Pedro streams, tributaries of the Paraná River (Ref. 26076), Pircacicaba (Ref. 50076), Machado (Ref. 97589) and Uruguay River (Ref. 79585). Also Ref. 36692.
National Checklist:
Country Information: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/br.html
National Fisheries Authority:
Occurrences: Occurrences Point map
Main Ref: Pavanelli, C.S. and E.P. Caramaschi, 1997
National Database:

Common names from other countries

Gymnote rayé, Carapo, Cutlass fish, ... more

Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Teleostei (teleosts) > Gymnotiformes (Knifefishes) > Gymnotidae (Naked-back knifefishes) > Gymnotinae
Etymology: Gymnotus: Greek, gymnos = naked (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Linnaeus.

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 6.0 - 7.5; dH range: ? - 15; potamodromous (Ref. 51243). Subtropical; 22°C - 28°C (Ref. 1672)

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

Central and South America: southern Mexico to Paraguay, including Trinidad.

Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m 19.4, range 25 - ? cm
Max length : 76.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 79585); max. published weight: 1.2 kg (Ref. 79585)

Facultative air-breathing (Ref. 126274); Aggressive (Ref. 27188). Inhabits turbid slow moving or standing waters (Ref. 11225). Found also in shallow edges of streams (Ref. 75964). Can survive when ditches, canals and small ponds dry out. (Ref. 11225). Feeds mainly at night on worms, insects (e.g. odonate larvae), shrimps, fish (preferably small characids, e.g. Ctenobrycon and Curimata) and plant matter (Ref. 7020; 10011). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Mouth brooding by males is observed in this species (Ref. 55570). Males provide parental care in nests excavated for eggs and larvae (Ref. 55570). Uses its long anal fin for locomotion. Can distinguish between a `friendly neighbor' and a potentially `threatening stranger' based on electric organ discharge (EOD) waveform alone (Ref. 10011). Relationship between EOD pattern and agonistic behavior in this species has been demonstrated (Refs. 10531, 10532, 10533). Shows auditory abilities, responding best to a frequency of 1000 Hz, with an upper limit above 5000 Hz (Ref. 10831). Also responds to vibratory stimuli (water waves: 125-250 Hz) with transient increase in EOD rate (Ref. 10834). 'Prefers' temperatures of 24-25°C (Ref. 10836).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae

Parental care is provided by the male. The male sits on a depression with its anal fin expanded horizontally guarding a cluster of larvae. More larvae are spread out in leaf litter up to 2 m away (Ref. 55570).

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator : Campos-da-Paz, Ricardo | Collaborators

Campos-da-Paz, R., 2003. Gymnotidae (Naked-back knifefishes). p. 483-486. In R.E. Reis, S.O. Kullander and C.J. Ferraris, Jr. (eds.) Checklist of the Freshwater Fishes of South and Central America. Porto Alegre EDIPUCRS, Brasil. (Ref. 36692)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)

Least Concern (LC) ; Date assessed: 09 July 2018

CITES (Ref. 128078)

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

Fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercial

FAO(Publication : search) | FishSource |

More information

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Estimates based on models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804): PD₅₀ = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].

Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00380 (0.00292 - 0.00495), b=2.93 (2.85 - 3.01), in cm Total Length, based on LWR estimates for this species (Ref. 93245).

Trophic level (Ref. 69278): 3.6 ±0.56 se; based on food items.

Resilience (Ref. 120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=2).

Fishing Vulnerability (Ref. 59153): Moderate vulnerability (37 of 100).

Gymnotus carapo Linnaeus, 1758