Overview
Dorado (Salminus brasiliensis) can measure up to 1 metre (3.3 ft) in length. They're golden yellow in colour, with a regular pattern of black tonal scales forming a pattern of longitudinal black lines along the body. It has sometimes reddish fins, a black stripe on the tail, and an especially muscular jaw packed with two rows of saw-like teeth. The dorado has been described as "a prehistoric golden trout or salmon with the jaws of a pit bull terrier". As such, it's bony head and jaw muscles comprise around a quarter of its overall length. Also, as befitting a predator, it has well-developed eyesight and smell. Despite its scientific name and general shape, the dorado isn't related to the salmon - it's freshwater fish without any ocean-going phase.
There is little visual differentiation between the males/females - except some minor physical differences on the anal fin. The most obvious indication is likely to be the size as females grow to be considerably larger - reaching 30 kg. By contrast, the males grow only to around 10 kg.
Tuiuiú
(Jabiru Mycteria)
Length: 1.4 m. The jabiru stork is the largest and also the largest flying bird in the Brazilian fauna. It measures 1.5m tall and has 2.60m wingspan. Inhabits swampy areas, margins of lakes and rivers. Own head and neck naked, covered only by skin. His beak measures more than 35 cm and is a great tool to catch fish, frogs, snakes, puppies, alligators, small turtles, insects, crabs, snails and all sorts of small things that were within reach. Their hunting technique differs from the other storks. Walking in shallow water, diving repeatedly to drive away the nozzle and hidden catch fish, especially mussuns, traíras, catfish and piranhas. The breeding period coincides with the dry season when the ponds and flooded fields are shallower, making it easy to capture food. Builds its nest in isolated and tall trees to facilitate takeoffs and landings. The couple live set for life and uses the same nest every year. During the breeding season, nest undergoes a makeover to be reused, becoming increasing year after year. The nest is so great that often serves as a support for building parakeets nest in the same tree as the quark is curiaca-gray. The posture of Jabiru is four or five eggs. The puppies spend three to four months in the nest before their first flights. During this period, they receive food several times a day and, in many hot days, even water is brought by parents.
Curiosities
• The stork is the bird symbol of Pantanal, which is best known for Jabiru.
• A quark weighs about eight pounds.
• Adults do not voice complexion, but produce noises popping the nozzle.
• Reportedly the storks can live up to 36 years.
• During the hot hours of the day, flying loudly enjoying the warm air currents.
• In the Pantanal, one can observe storks albinos. Albinism is not always complete, but these birds usually do not have the only red, black parts in the neck, beak and legs.
• The storks have a habit of urinating on the legs to cause the drop in body temperature. For this reason, they are presented often with dirty legs white.
Behaviour and Habitat
Based on it's mood, the dorado switches from being Dr Jekyll to Mr. Hyde. It can be mild and timid or it can be a savage predator. It sits at the top of the food chain - actively hunting other smaller fish. It's sharp teeth and powerful jaws make a quick meal of anything that gets in its way - with its jaws very occasionally turning on swimmers or fisherman exercising insufficient care with the fish they've just reeled in. Their favourite hunting grounds appear to be the rough water near waterfalls and rapids, or the entryways into lakes and streams. They also shelter under fallen trees or other underwater obstructions, using them as a station to hunt. The dorado's diet consists primarily of other fish - but analysis of stomach contents have also shown them to eat large inserts, small vertebrates (such as rodents), snakes, lizards and birds.
Dorado are migratory - moving up and down the regions' connected river systems as the seasons, temperature and food sources change. They occupy a range of freshwater environments stretching across southern Brazil, northern Argentina, Uruguay, and into Bolivia and Paraguay. This habitat includes the river basins of the Paraguai (and Pantanal), Uruguai, Chaparé, and Mamoré Rivers, plus the drainage area of the Lagoa dos Patos lagoon in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. Close relatives of the dorado can also be found in the Rio São Francisco (Salminus franciscanus); the upper Paraná, Amazon and Orinoco basins (Salminus hilarii or tabarana); and in the Santiago and Magdalena basins of Ecuador and Colombia (Salminus affinis or Dorada/Rubia).