tambaqui

fish

Also known as: Colossoma macropomum

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Last updated

July 15, 2026

Quick Summary

The tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) is a large fish native to the Amazon River basin, weighing up to 30 kg (66 pounds). It is an important food fish for people in the region. The tambaqui has specialized adaptations, including nasal flaps to help it smell fruit and powerful jaws with horselike molars to crush seeds and fruit.1

The tambaqui is part of a unique ecosystem in the Amazon's flooded forests where many fish feed on seeds and fruit. These fish play a crucial role in seed dispersal, consuming fruits and then depositing the seeds in new locations through their excrement. This symbiotic relationship has led to unique adaptations in both the plants and the fish that inhabit these areas.1

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Vegetarian Piranhas
One large characin, the tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum), has developed nasal flaps on the upper part of the snout to help it smell fruit. The tambaqui is an important food fish for peoples of the Amazon and can weigh up to 30 kg (66 pounds). It uses horselike molars and…
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One large characin, the tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum), has developed nasal flaps on the upper part of the snout to help it smell fruit. The tambaqui is an important food fish for peoples of the Amazon and can weigh up to 30 kg (66 pounds). It uses horselike molars and…
Read More