Hoplias mbigua
Formally described only in 2015, Hoplias mbigua is a compact trahira native to a specific stretch of the lower Paraná River drainage in northeastern Argentina.
Most anglers in its range know it simply as tararira — a tough, structure-holding predator of the floodplain. Its recent recognition as a distinct species means the science is still catching up to what local fishermen have long known.
Scientific Name: Hoplias mbigua
Also known as tararira, Green Wolffish
- Five brown bands running crosswise on the lower jaw — the clearest field mark separating it from related trahira, which show small dots or straight markings instead.
- The dorsal profile between the head and dorsal fin is convex, setting it apart from the closely related H. teres, which has a straight dorsal profile.
- A modest-sized fish; recorded specimens range from roughly 17 to 44 cm, with a maximum standard length around 11.5 inches.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- A floodplain specialist of the lower Paraná River drainage in northeastern Argentina — slow, warm, heavily vegetated waters that flood seasonally and hold dense aquatic cover.
- Within its native range, it's associated with the Misiones and Corrientes regions of Argentina, in the kind of backwater and lagoon habitat typical of the Paraná basin.
- In parts of the upper Paraná River floodplain, it is considered non-native, where it coexists with native Erythrinidae through distinct feeding habits and territorial behavior.
Specific Spots
- Floodplain lagoons and connected backwaters are the core habitat — slow, warm, and choked with vegetation where a territorial fish can hold a defined feeding area without competing in open water.
- Woody debris and channel margins in vegetated floodplain environments concentrate this species, as they do most trahira — the cover provides both ambush position and territorial anchor points.
Hoplias mbigua FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Hoplias mbigua?
No lure data specific to H. mbigua has been documented; trahira as a group are typically taken on live or cut fish, large soft plastics, and surface lures worked through or over dense vegetation, presentations that put the offering in front of a fish that holds its position rather than chasing.
What do Hoplias mbigua eat?
The specifics of what H. mbigua eats aren't fully documented, but research confirms its diet differs meaningfully from native Hoplias species it shares water with, low feeding overlap points to distinct prey preferences or size classes, which is part of how multiple trahira coexist in the same floodplain system.
Where do Hoplias mbigua live?
A floodplain specialist of the lower Paraná River drainage in northeastern Argentina, slow, warm, heavily vegetated waters that flood seasonally and hold dense aquatic cover.
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