Salminus, popularly known as dorado or dourado, is a genus of relatively large (up to 1.3–1.4 m or 4.3–4.6 ft long[1][2]), predatory freshwater fish from the family Characidae. They are native to large tropical and subtropical rivers in South America, and undertake migrations during the rainy season to spawn.[3] They are very popular among recreational anglers and also support important commercial fisheries.[3]
| Salminus Temporal range: Miocene to present | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Salminus hilarii | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Characiformes |
| Family: | Characidae |
| Subfamily: | Salmininae |
| Genus: | Salminus Agassiz, 1829 |
| Species | |
4, see text | |
Species
Significant taxonomic confusion has surrounded this genus, and until a review in 1990, several additional species were recognised (most of these are junior synonyms of S. brasiliensis).[4] Although known for more than 150 years, S. franciscanus was only scientifically described in 2007.[3] Today, four extant (living) species are recognised:[5]
- Salminus affinis Steindachner, 1880 – Santiago and Magdalena basins in Ecuador and Colombia
- Salminus brasiliensis (G. Cuvier, 1816) (dorado/golden dorado) – Paraguay, Uruguay, Chapare and Mamoré basins, and drainage of the Lagoa dos Patos
- Salminus franciscanus F. C. T. Lima & Britski, 2007 – São Francisco basin
- Salminus hilarii Valenciennes, 1850 – upper Paraná, Amazon and Orinoco basins
A fifth extinct species is only known from Miocene fossil remains:
- †Salminus noriegai – Argentina