Colossoma bidens (Pacu)

The Colossoma Bidens is a freshwater fish belonging to the Pimelodidae family. He is from the rivers and rivers of South America, mainly in the Amazon. It is a large fish, up to up to 1.2 meters long and weigh up to 30 kg. Its most distinctive characteristic is its shiny black color, with orange or red spots on the fins and the belly.

The Colossoma Bidens has an elongated body and compressed laterally, with a wide head and a protractile mouth, fitted with powerful teeth and bearded. Its dorsal fin is long and sharp, while its caudal fin is rounded. It also has a pectoral fin and a pelvic fin.

Colossoma Bidens is an omnivorous fish that feeds mainly on aquatic plants, small fish and invertebrates. It can also feed on decaying organic debris in water. Due to its imposing size and its voracity, it is considered a dominant predator in its natural habitat.

Colossoma Bidens is a gregarious fish, often gathering in large quantities in shallow waters to feed and reproduce. Reproduction generally occurs during flood periods, when waters are richer in food. Females lay eggs in large quantities, which are then fertilized by males. Young fish are incubated in mucus bags produced by females, until they are large enough to fend for themselves.

Due to its imposing size and its voracity, Colossoma Bidens is a widely exploited species for commercial fishing. It is also raised in aquaculture farms for its flesh, which is considered a high quality protein source. However, the intensive exploitation of this species has led to a decrease in its population in its natural habitat, which has placed it on the red list of endangered species by the International Union for Nature Conservation.