| Tambaqui Temporal range: Miocene - Recent |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Characiformes |
| Family: | Characidae |
| Subfamily: | Serrasalminae |
| Genus: | Colossoma C. H. Eigenmann & C. H. Kennedy, 1903 |
| Species: | C. macropomum |
| Binomial name | |
| Colossoma macropomum (G. Cuvier, 1818) |
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| Synonyms | |
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The tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) is a freshwater fish of the subfamily Serrasalminae, family Characidae. It is also known by the names pacu, black pacu, black-finned pacu, giant pacu, cachama and gamitana.
Fossils of a living species of Colossoma from the Miocene have been described, suggesting a very conservative history for a specialized herbivorous fish.[1]
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The tambaqui is the largest characin of South America. The tambaqui is found in the Amazon and Orinoco basins in its wild form. However, its pisciculture form is widely distributed in South America.[2] (Pacu is a different fish. It is smaller than tambaqui)
It may reach more than 1 metre in total length and 30 kilograms in total weight.[2]
It is similar in shape to the piranha and is sometimes confused with the carnivorous fish; the pacu is tall and laterally compressed with large eyes and a slightly arched back. Body color is basic black to gray with spots and blemishes in its mid body. All the fins are black and the pectoral fins are small. Around 10 percent of a tambaqui's weight is fat. The world record recognized by IGFA belongs to the Brazilian Jorge Masullo de Aguiar with 32.4 kg.
This species is usually solitary.[2] Adults stay in flooded forests during the first 5 months of flooding and consume fruits and grains. Young and juveniles live in black waters of flood plains until sexual maturity. The tambaqui feeds on zooplankton, insects, snails, and decaying plants.[2] Research has indicated the species plays an important role in dispersing seeds from fruits.[3][4][5]
The tambaqui is used in aquaculture because it can live in mineral poor waters and is very resistant to diseases. This species is marketed fresh and frozen.[2]
In Thailand this fish, known locally as Pla khu dam (ปลาคู้ดำ), was introduced from Hong Kong and Singapore as part of fish farming projects, but has adapted to local conditions and thrives in the wild in some areas.[6]