Acari

Length Category:  Small (<40 cm)

Trophic Level:  Detritivores

Migratory Pattern:  Local (<100 km)

Spawning Period:  Low + Rising

Export Market:  Regional (in Amazon)

Market Status:  Third class

Catch Distribution:

Acari potential yield was estimated to be approximately 1,400 tons. The main fishery regions are the Lower Amazon (40%), Peruvian Amazon (30%) and Central Amazon (23%), which together represent 93% of the total catch. The Tocantins region has a moderate acari potential yield of 5%.

Natural History Notes:

The acari fish group of food fishes includes various genera and species of the armored catfish family Loricariidade. Commercial fisheries exploit mainly Pterygoplichthys pardalis and secondarily Hypostomus emarginatus. Acari species of the commercial fisheries are sedentary fishes and are abundant in várzea lakes of whitewater rivers. They feed mostly on detritus and algae that is scraped or rasped from the bottom substrate. Pterygoplichthys pardalis spawns once annually in holes made in lake banks. Male parental care is also practiced.