|
About Peacock Bass
According
to the research of fisheries scientists Dr. Sven Kullander from the Swedish
Historical and Natural Museum, Dr. Kirk Winemiller and Dr. Efrem Ferreira, from
the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, some 15 different species of
peacock cichlids exist. However, only five of them are currently described in
the scientific literature. These species include Cichla temensis, Cichla
ocellaris, Cichla intermedia, Cichla orinocencis and Cichla monoculus.
Although another 10 are still without scientific description, Drs. Kullander and
Ferreira will be publishing a complete paper in which they will identify further
species of peacock bass.
Species
Identification
 Americans
refer to it as peacock bass, but you will not find this moniker in the
vocabulary of the average South American angler. It is estimated that some 2,500
American anglers visit South America each year to fish for this fantastic
freshwater gamefish.
Brazilians refer to this hard fighting cichlid
as tucunaré, an Indian derived name. It is pronounced too-coo-na-ray. It
is the national freshwater sportfish of Brazil.
Venezuelans know the peacock bass as pavon, loosely translated to peacock. It is
pronounced pa-vone. Venezuela was probably the first country to introduce
American anglers to the peacock bass.
The identification and naming of the various peacock bass
species can be confusing. The International Gamefish Association (IGFA)
recognizes four species of peacock bass for their record keeping purposes. There
is conflict over the scientific name that the IGFA associates with the butterfly
peacock species. While the IGFA lists Cichla ocellaris as the scientific name
for the butterfly variety, this might be the least commonly found species of
butterfly peacock bass, while two other named species (the cichla orinocensis
and cichla monoculus) not recognized by the IGFA are much more readily available
to anglers and they both should legitimately be considered as true butterfly
peacock bass. Another of the four species they recognize, the blue peacock bass,
also called gray bar peacock, does not have a scientific formal name yet.
 Although
the fish depicted to the left is representative of the typical peacock bass
described in texts and magazines, you will soon discover that there is a
tremendous difference in the appearance between the many species of peacock
bass, as well as differences even among the same species. Although they possess
unique physical characteristics, all peacock bass will present a worthy
adversary to the angler visiting South America.
Cichla
Ocellaris
 The
butterfly peacock bass is the one that has generated the most confusion
in terms of correct nomenclature. While the IGFA calls the butterfly peacock
bass cichla ocellaris, fisheries scientists suggest that they should add two
other species of peacock bass, the cichla orinocensis and cichla monoculus, as
cichlid peacocks that would qualify to be called the butterfly variety. The
ocellaris, according to peacock bass researcher, author and angler Dieter Kelber
of Sao Paulo, Brazil is probably only found in waters of Guyana, Suriname, upper
part of Rio Branco in Brazil and in South Florida. The fish is predominantly of
a yellow-green, with very light colored bars starting from the dorsal fin, black
marking points over the body and an extra ocellus near to the dorsal fin. This
species is believed to attain weights of 4 pounds.
Cichla Orinocensis
 The cichla orinocensis, also referred to as
three spot peacock, pavón tres estrellas, pavon mariposa, pavón amarillo,
marichapa, tucunaré borboleta, tucunaré botãozinho, lukanani, can be
distinguished from other pavón species by three black circular spots (called
rosettes) along each side of the body. This fish is mostly common found in the
black waters of Orinoco and Amazon River basin. They like to be near rocky
structure of slow flowing waters, as you will find in rivers like the Negro,
Unini, Uatumã, Orinoco and Ventuari, etc. This species will grow up to 10
pounds, however most are between two and five pounds that are regularly caught
by anglers.
Cichla Monoculus
 The cichla monoculus, also known as tucunaré
borboleta, tucunaré amarelo, tucunaré comum, is predominantly yellow with three
black bars in each side of the body. The bars start from the base of the dorsal
fins and ends at the middle of the lateral body. The black blotching on the
opercula is not present in this species. Some of the fish have spots in the anal
fins. When they live in deep or stained waters the yellow colors change to a
dark brown. This species can attain weights of 6 to 8 pounds. It is found in the
Amazon, Araguaia and Tocantins rivers besides others. They were also introduced
into several hydropower lakes, outside the Amazonas Region, in Brazil, Panama,
Puerto Rico and Florida.
Speckled Peacock Bass
 The
speckled peacock bass (cichla temensis), often called the “tiger,” “el
tigre,” “venado” or “paca,” is found in the Amazon River basin in the Rio Negro
and Uatumã River drainages; Orinoco River basin in Venezuela and Colombia. This
species possesses three dark vertical bars (becoming more distinct and defined
with age), as well as four to six rows of white or pale yellow spots or broken
lines, running in horizontal rows along the length of their bodies. Dieter
Kelber states that spawning male fish do not demonstrate this speckling pattern.
In addition, he also points out that the male speckled version of cichla
temensis with the prominent nuchal hump will not demonstrate the obvious white
or pale yellow speckling pattern like the barred variety of temensis. This fish
also possesses cheek (opercula) blotching. The world record peacock bass - a 27-
pound giant - was a speckled variety. Many experienced peacock anglers believe
that this is the most powerful of the species. Seek out speckled peacock bass
on points, sand bars and as isolated fish around rocky shoals. Fisheries
scientists and the International Gamefish Association (IGFA) consider this the
same species as the barred peacock.
Barred Peacock Bass
 The
barred peacock bass (cichla temensis), often called “grande,” “acu,”
“banded,” “striped,” “cinchado” or “black barred” peacock, is dusky green on the
dorsal surface, blending to a golden or greenish yellow on its sides. It is
characterized by three black vertical bars along each side, and black irregular
patches situated behind the eye on the cheek (opercula). The presence of these
cheek patches will almost always distinguish it from the butterfly peacock bass,
of which certain color patterns of this species can often resemble the barred
peacock. This species can grow in excess of 27 pounds. There is no debate that
the cichla temensis (both the speckled and barred variety) reaches the largest
proportions. Fish weighing between 14 and 20 pounds are very common caught
while fishing at any of the three Amazon Fishing Adventures operations and are
considered true trophy fish. It is the barred version of cichla temensis, not
the speckled, that will possess the prominent nuchal hump.
Royal Peacock Bass
 Found in
Venezuela and Colombia, the royal peacock bass (chichla
intermedia), also referred to as the black-striped peacock, pavón real or royal
pavón, is found within the Orinoco River basin, tributaries of the Orinoco
River, and the Casiquiare River in Venezuela. It possesses an irregular, dark
line running laterally along the length of its golden or olive green body, as
well as five to 10 black vertical bars or irregular streaks along their sides.
This fish is frequently found around rocky shoals and wood cover and tends to be
current-oriented. They are a schooling fish and seem to have a preference for
subsurface lures and flies. These fish average around two pounds, but fish over
six pounds are taken each year. Line and all-tackle records are readily
available to pursue for this species, as they probably are the least targeted.
Gray Bar or Blue
Peacock Bass
 The
gray bar or blue peacock bass, also called tucunaré azul, is very easy
to recognize, due to the presence of five or six vertical dark bars at each side
of the body. The predominant color of this peacock species is blue/gray in clear
waters and tending to reveal brown in white waters. Blotches on the opercula are
also present. It is believed that they attain weights of about 12 pounds, but
the most commonly caught size are between four and eight pounds. The main
locations to locate the gray bar peacock bass, besides the Araguaia Basin, are
the lakes of the following hydropower plants: Emborcação, Itumbiara and São
Simão in the Rio Parnaíba; Serra da Mesa in Rio Tocantins; Furnas and Volta
Grande in the Rio Grande river; Nova Avanhandava and Pereira Barreto in the
Tiete river; Ilha Solteira, Jupiá and Porto Primavera in the Paraná river. Most
of these locations possess lodges for anglers.
Peacock Bass Adventures Home
|
