The Cyndontidae family also called peixe cachorro, Dog fish, Saber toothed dogfish, Tiger fish, guapeta, and Payara inhabit freshwater river sand lakes in South America from the Orinoco river to Paraguay river basins. Distribution of large Payara is limited to a few places in Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Guyana, Peru and Ecuador. They prefer fast moving waters, but are found in still water of lakes and rivers as well.

The outstanding characteristic of this fish is a pair of enormous saber like teeth Protruding from the lower jaw of he broad upturned mouth. The upper jaw contains two corresponding holes to accommodate he four to six inch teeth when the mouth is closed. The Payaras elongated compressed body and enlarged pectoral fins are ideal for the violently turbulent water that these top end predators prefer. Payara are generally dark blue to olicaceous dorsally, blending to silver along the sides and belly.

Payara fish are among the gamest of South America fresh water fishes, leaping when hooked and making long fast runs. They are picivorous predators that hack upwards, stapping prey with there large canine teeth and then swallowing them whole and head first…