Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 6, 2026

Lithodoras

Lithodoras dorsalis, the rock-bacu, is the only species in the genus Lithodoras of the catfish family Doradidae. This species originates from the Amazon basin in Brazil and estuaries near Cayenne, French Guiana. These fish feed on the leaves of macrophytes. When the forests are flooded, they feed exclusively on fruits and seeds, acting as an agent of seed dispersal. Reproduction occurs once a year and juveniles are often seen in large numbers in the estuary of the Amazon. These fish reach a length of 100 centimetres (39 in) TL and a weight of up to 15 kilograms (33 lb).

Last revised
Jun 6, 2026
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Lithodoras
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Doradidae
Genus: Lithodoras
Bleeker, 1862
Species:
L. dorsalis
Binomial name
Lithodoras dorsalis
(Valenciennes, 1840)
Synonyms
  • Doras dorsalis
    Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1840
  • Doras papilionatus
    De Filippi, 1853
  • Doras lithogaster
    Kner, 1855
  • Megalodoras paucisquamatus
    Van der Stigchel, 1946

Lithodoras dorsalis, the rock-bacu, is the only species in the genus Lithodoras of the catfish (order Siluriformes) family Doradidae.2 This species originates from the Amazon basin in Brazil and estuaries near Cayenne, French Guiana.3 These fish feed on the leaves of macrophytes. When the forests are flooded, they feed exclusively on fruits and seeds, acting as an agent of seed dispersal.4 Reproduction occurs once a year and juveniles are often seen in large numbers in the estuary of the Amazon.3 These fish reach a length of 100 centimetres (39 in) TL and a weight of up to 15 kilograms (33 lb).3

References

References

  1. Salvador, G.N. (2023). "Lithodoras dorsalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2023 e.T164502899A164502912. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T164502899A164502912.en. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  2. "Lithodoras dorsalis". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved May 22, 2007.
  3. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Lithodoras dorsalis". FishBase. December 2011 version.
  4. Kubitzki, Klaus; Ziburski, Albrecht (1994). "Seed Dispersal in Flood Plain Forests of Amazonia". Biotropica. 26 (1). The Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation: 30–43. Bibcode:1994Biotr..26...30K. doi:10.2307/2389108. JSTOR 2389108.