In Brazil, a species of vegetarian fish similar to the piranha has been identified. It was named Sauron due to its resemblance to the character from The Lord of the Rings, as reported by the British Museum of Natural History.
The fish Myloplus sauron and its peculiarity
Scientists named this species Myloplus sauron after observing that its round shape, red fins, and a black stripe resembled the eye of “Sauron”, the main villain from the iconic fantasy series by the British author J.R.R. Tolkien.
“Myloplus sauron” exclusively inhabits the Xingu basin, a tributary of the Amazon in Brazil, a river that houses over 600 species of fish, including more than 70 that are not found anywhere else in the world.
Scientific studies indicate that up to 42% of the fish in the Amazon are still unknown to humanity.
Discovery in the Amazon River
This new species identified in Brazil by scientists seeking to expand knowledge about fish communities in the Amazon River has teeth similar to humans and a diet that is mainly vegetarian.
The existence of “Myloplus sauron” was documented through a study published in the Neotropical Ichthyology journal, focusing on Amazonian piranhas and similar species that are difficult to differentiate due to changes in their appearance throughout their lives.
Rupert Collins, one of the leading fish specialists at the Natural History Museum in London and author of the study, participated in the description and naming of this new species.
“When my colleagues suggested the name they had in mind for this fish, we knew it was a perfect fit,” Collins commented in a statement.
“We still know little about many of the animals with which we share the world, even basic things like their appearance and where they live,” added the expert.
What is the largest fish in the Amazon in Brazil?
The arapaima (Arapaima gigas) is the largest river fish in the world and the second-largest freshwater fish, only surpassed by the beluga sturgeon inhabiting the Black Sea.
This species can grow to be more than three meters long and weigh up to 250 kilograms. Its silhouette is well known to the inhabitants of the Amazon basin: it has an elongated body with thick scales that protect it from piranha attacks and form a silver pattern with edges that can take on a red and occasionally yellow coloration.
*Information from AFP
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