'tucunare pinima'—Cichla pinima
Cichla pinima is one of the newly described (2006) species of Cichla.
ID Key: C. pinima is similar to C. temensis, however its torso is somewhat thicker proportionately with a greater height to length ratio. It’s 3 bars are less contiguous and often have disconnected blotches at the ends.
| Bars and Markings | Colors | Size | Key Characters | Similar Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Possesses three prominent dark vertical bars or blotches in adults. Dark markings on operculum are present. Juveniles have 4 or more horizontal rows of light spots. | Possesses three prominent dark vertical bars or blotches in adults. Dark markings on operculum are present. Juveniles have 4 or more horizontal rows of light spots. | Our Variety Floating Bungalow trip to the Rio Piranima has yielded specimens up to 17 pounds. | Depth to length ratio: approx. 27% Lateral Line Scales: approx. 95 |
Most similar to C. temensis C. jariina C. thyrorus C. vazzoleri |
| Known Range | Behavior Notes | Habitat | Common Names | IGFA records |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Countries: Brazil. River Basins: lower Rio Tapajos, Rio Curua-Una, lower Rio Xingu, lower Rio Tocantins and Rio Capim. Also introduced in other locations in Brazil's northeast |
They relate strongly to the edges of flooded igapo, in both river and lagoon environments, coming out to attack baits. | C. pinima are fairly abundant along the shorelines, in amongst woody structure in low-gradient rivers. | pinima is a Tupi-Guarani Indian word meaning white-spotted. The name was in use prior to the 2006 revision | None |
Fishing Tactics;
Rio Piranima — C. pinima — Variety Floating Bungalow trip report.
These fish similar, in many ways to C. temensis, (although not reaching into the 20 pound class), offer much the same fishing experience on subsurface baits, especially the peacock rattle jig. Attacking with powerful strikes, they immediately head for the nearest cover. As readily taken on topwaters as C. temensis, they will explode on well-presented Zara Spooks and prop baits. Although locals claimed that they could reach 9 kilos (almost 19 pounds), the largest we’ve encountered was 17 pounds. Of course, it would be great to find the giants the locals describe, so we’ll keep on plugging away.
C. pinima—Report by Dr. Stuart Willis:
"We angled these in the Araguari River downstream of Ferreira Gomes in Amapa. This clearwater river, downstream of FG, is a low-gradient floodplain river, and is also heavily tidally influenced. C. pinima were fairly abundant along the shore, in amongst the woody structure. We caught these on weedless spoons. The people I spoke with called this species "tucunare acu" and C. monoculus, with which C. pinima is largely co-distributed, 'tucunare chinga'."