Skip to main content

Leporinus altipinnis

Leporinus altipinnis

Leporinus altipinnis is a black-water specialist in the Anostomidae family — the toothed headstanders — native to Brazil's Amazonas basin. It turns up in the dark, tannin-stained rivers of the Negro and Arapiuns drainages and in the Iténez-Guaporé basin.

Rarely targeted deliberately, it occasionally shows up as incidental catch in Amazonian subsistence and sport fishing.

Scientific Name: Leporinus altipinnis

Physical Characteristics:
  • A member of the headstander family: elongated, laterally compressed body with the characteristic slightly downward-angled head posture at rest.
  • Banded or spotted patterning typical of the genus; the altipinnis name references its notably tall dorsal fin, which helps distinguish it from closely related species.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • Native to Brazil; found in tributaries of the Amazonas basin, including the Rio Negro and Rio Arapiuns, as well as the Iténez-Guaporé river basin in western Brazil.
  • A black-water specialist — the dark, acidic, tannin-rich rivers of the Amazon lowlands are its core habitat.
  • Benthopelagic in tropical freshwater; lives and feeds in the water column close to the bottom in slow to moderate current.
  • Breeds in densely vegetated areas, so weedy backwaters and flooded marginal growth are important habitat components.

Key Locations

  • Rio Negro, Amazonas state — one of the confirmed Brazilian drainages for this species, characterized by its black, acidic water.
  • Rio Arapiuns, Pará state — a confirmed Amazonas-basin tributary where the species has been recorded.
  • Iténez-Guaporé basin, western Brazil — noted as part of the species' range in recent taxonomic literature.

Specific Spots

  • Dense aquatic vegetation and flooded marginal growth — confirmed breeding habitat, and likely where fish concentrate during high water.
  • Black-water tributaries and smaller river channels rather than main-stem whitewater rivers; look for tannin-stained water with soft, acidic conditions.

See it in the app

Most maps show you water.
onWater shows you Leporinus altipinnis.

  1. 01 · Species map filter

    Map every Leporinus altipinnis water

    Pick Leporinus altipinnis and the map zeroes in on the waters they call home. No more guessing which lake holds them.

  2. 02 · Waterbody species

    Tap any water. See what lives there.

    Species, behavior and seasonal patterns for every lake, river and pond, before you leave the driveway.

  3. 03 · Angler Intelligence

    Ask how to catch Leporinus altipinnis

    Tactics, gear and timing from onWater's AI fishing guide, tuned to the species and the water you're on.

Stop guessing where Leporinus altipinnis are.

Open the map, filter by Leporinus altipinnis, and head to water that holds them. Download onWater and plan your next trip in minutes.

  • Species map filter
  • Angler Intelligence
  • Fishing journal
Try onWater+ for free

Explore other species

Trout, bass, salmon, panfish and everything in between. Each guide unpacks the behavior, seasons, and tactics that put fish in the net.

No species information available.

Smarter Fishing Starts in the App.

onWater Fish gives you everything you need to plan smarter, fish better, and own every trip from first cast to last.