Salminus Explained

Salminus, popularly known as dorado or dourado, is a genus of relatively large (up to NaNabbr=onNaNabbr=on 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:

• Salminus affinis Steindachner, 1880 – Santiago and Magdalena basins in Ecuador and Colombia
• Salminus brasiliensis (G. Cuvier, 1816) (dorado/golden dorado) – Paraguay, Uruguay, Chapare and Mamoré basins, and drainage of the Lagoa dos Patos
• Salminus franciscanus F. C. T. Lima & Britski, 2007 – São Francisco basin
• Salminus hilarii Valenciennes, 1850 – upper Paraná, Amazon and Orinoco basins

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

• †Salminus noriegai – Argentina

Notes and References

1. Fishing World-records: Salminus brasiliensis. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
2. Fishing World-records: Salminus franciscanus. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
3. 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.