Leporinus trifasciatus
Leporinus trifasciatus is a mid-sized anostomid found in the Amazon basin and Tocantins-Araguaia system in Brazil. Reaching roughly 29 cm and under 650 g, it turns up in the catches of subsistence and artisanal fishers working fast-flowing rivers.
Its bold black-and-yellow banding makes it one of the more recognizable members of a family that Brazilians broadly call 'piau.'
Scientific Name: Leporinus trifasciatus
Also known as piau, piau-três-pintas
- Elongated, torpedo-shaped body; bright yellow or beige base color crossed by three bold black vertical bars — the feature that gives the species its name (trifasciatus = three-banded).
- Juveniles may show fewer or less distinct bars; adults carry the full three-bar pattern clearly.
- Typical adults run 15–25 cm; the recorded maximum is around 29 cm standard length and roughly 645 g.
- Enlarged front teeth — a hallmark of the anostomid family — visible when the fish is in hand; useful for separating it from similar characins.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to Brazil; its type specimen was collected at Tefé on the Amazon River in Amazonas state, and the species ranges through the broader Amazon basin and the Tocantins-Araguaia system.
- Documented in the Parque Estadual do Cantão in Tocantins state, where the Araguaia floodplain provides seasonally flooded habitat.
- Primarily a fast-water fish — rocky runs, riffles, and swift tributary channels rather than still backwaters.
- Benthopelgic: spends most of its time near the bottom in the water column, often sheltering in sand pockets or around submerged structure.
Key Locations
- Tefé, Amazonas — the type locality on the main Amazon River; the surrounding várzea and tributary channels hold the species.
- Parque Estadual do Cantão, Tocantins — documented here within the Araguaia floodplain system.
- Tocantins-Araguaia basin broadly — the river system is one of the confirmed range anchors for this species in Brazil.
Specific Spots
- Rocky riffles and boulder fields in fast-flowing stretches — the current breaks behind large rocks concentrate fish feeding on drifting material.
- Submerged weed beds and dense aquatic vegetation, especially during the breeding period when pairs move into heavily planted areas.
- Deeper pools immediately downstream of rapids, where fish rest between feeding forays into faster water.
Leporinus trifasciatus FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Leporinus trifasciatus?
Small jigs (1/16–1/8 oz) tipped with soft-plastic grubs or natural bait, worked along the bottom through rocky runs, cover the insect and crustacean portion of the diet.
When is the best time to fish for Leporinus trifasciatus?
High-water season (roughly November–April in much of the Amazon basin): fish disperse into flooded forest and feed heavily on fruits and seeds; locating schools requires covering more water.
How do you catch Leporinus trifasciatus?
Artisanal and subsistence fishers in the Amazon and Tocantins-Araguaia regions take this species from shore or small boats, working rocky fast-water stretches with natural baits or small jigs fished near the bottom.
What do Leporinus trifasciatus eat?
Omnivorous with a strong plant component: feeds on aquatic vegetation, fallen fruits, and seeds, during high water, fruits and seeds washed into flooded forest are a major food source, making floating fruit imitations or surface presentations worth trying.
Where do Leporinus trifasciatus live?
Native to Brazil; its type specimen was collected at Tefé on the Amazon River in Amazonas state, and the species ranges through the broader Amazon basin and the Tocantins-Araguaia system. Documented in the Parque Estadual do Cantão in Tocantins state, where the Araguaia floodplain provides seasonally flooded habitat.
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