Peixe-rei-bicudo
A small, slender silverside confined entirely to a handful of coastal lagoons in southern Brazil's Tramandaí river basin. The long, pointed snout — "bicudo" means beaked — is the feature that sets it apart from closely related silversides in the same water.
Unusually for a silverside of its size, it eats other fish rather than invertebrates, making it a specialist predator within one of the tightest natural ranges of any fish in the region.
Scientific Name: Odontesthes bicudo
Also known as gavúnovec brazilský
- The snout is the defining feature: noticeably longer than the width between the eyes, which immediately separates it from the similar Odontesthes ledae, where snout length and interorbital width are roughly equal.
- Fusiform, elongated body with a silvery lateral stripe — sometimes with a yellowish cast — running from the pectoral fin base to the caudal peduncle; all fins are otherwise clear except for slight darkening at the dorsal fin bases.
- Two dorsal fins positioned well back on the body; pectoral fins sit high on the sides; mouth is terminal and horizontal, with the opening aligned with the center of the eye.
- Maximum recorded size is 20.8 cm standard length — a small fish by any measure.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- One of the most restricted ranges of any silverside in South America: endemic to the Tramandaí river system in southern Brazil, with no documented populations elsewhere.
- Occupies shallow coastal lagoons — Emboaba, Caconde, Horácio, and Lessa — within that basin; notably absent from estuarine zones despite the system's direct connection to the coast.
Specific Spots
- Because this species eats other fish, it tracks wherever small forage fish are densest within its lagoon habitat — structural transitions between shallow and deeper water are the most logical places to find it.
Peixe-rei-bicudo FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Peixe-rei-bicudo?
No documented lure or bait record exists for this species. Its fish-eating diet is the only biological clue available, but translating that into specific tackle recommendations without any angling record would be guesswork.
What do Peixe-rei-bicudo eat?
Small fish make up the bulk of the diet, an unusual dietary specialization for a silverside that tops out under 21 cm. No documented angling record exists for this species, so any gear or lure approach remains speculative.
Where do Peixe-rei-bicudo live?
One of the most restricted ranges of any silverside in South America: endemic to the Tramandaí river system in southern Brazil, with no documented populations elsewhere.
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