fat sleeper
Dormitator maculatus
Fish with a broad, flattened head that lives in mangroves, estuaries and lower stretches of rivers, from the Caribbean to Brazil. It is not a target of rod fishing and is caught commercially.
Also called: barrigudo, naca, guarasapa, fat sleeper
- maximum
- 70 cm
who is the fat sleeper
Sleeper of the family Eleotridae, with a short, thick body and a broad, very flattened head. It reaches 70 cm and lives on the Atlantic slope, in mangroves, swamps, muddy lagoons and channels, at salinities of 0 to 21 ppt. It is more common in fresh water, but also appears in brackish mangroves, and goes up rivers only as far as the lower stretch. Adults mainly eat plants, sediment and small invertebrates, and guard the nest during breeding. It shows up in commercial fishing and the aquarium trade, but is hardly a target of rod fishing.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the fat sleeper.
fun facts
- During breeding, adults change color and perform an elaborate courtship display.
- The genus breathes air facultatively, and the species lives in both fresh and brackish water.
identification
Short, thick body, with a broad, very flattened head, which is the species' main mark. Adults live in swamps, muddy lagoons and mangrove channels, mostly in fresh or slightly salty water, and change color during the breeding season. There is no simple field mark that separates it from other similar fish in the family, so identification takes care.
Loading the next 7 days…
Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
In Latin America it occurs in many countries of the Caribbean and Central America, such as Mexico, Cuba and Nicaragua, and in Brazil, in mangroves and lower river stretches of the coast.
Habitat: Mangroves, brackish swamps and muddy channels near river mouths.
coast
rules for the fat sleeper
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
Conservation: Not on the Brazilian national list (Ministerial Ordinance GM/MMA No. 1.667/2026).
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
It poses no danger to people. Handle it with wet hands and return it to the water quickly.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00977, b = 3.08; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Dormitator maculatus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Dormitator maculatusNames by country and language.
- official Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667, de 27 de abril de 2026: Lista Nacional Oficial de Espécies da Fauna Ameaçadas de Extinção (peixes e invertebrados aquáticos)The species is not on the list. Checked in the DOU of April 28, 2026.