Potamorhina latior
Schooling várzea fish, toothless, that eats mud. Heavily caught in nets and food for nearly every predator in the region.
Also called: branquinha, branquinha-comum
Branquinhas are fish of the family Curimatidae, which have no teeth and feed on detritus and on the film of algae and microorganisms from the bottom and vegetation. The common branquinha forms very large schools in the várzea lakes and whitewater rivers of the Amazon and migrates with the water cycle. Because of its abundance, it is the base of the food chain: peacock bass, arapaima, catfish and river dolphins (botos) eat branquinha. It also appears in large numbers at the Manaus and Santarém landings, caught in nets. It is rare on the hook.
Tall, very compressed, silver body with a keeled belly. Small mouth, no teeth. Pale fins, without strong spots. The smooth-head branquinha (Potamorhina altamazonica) looks very similar. It does not have the sucker mouth of the jaraquí and curimatã.
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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.
Várzea lakes and whitewater rivers across the entire Amazon basin.
Habitat: Várzea lakes, paranás and banks with aquatic vegetation; flooded forest in the flood.
native to the basins
states
Amazonas, Pará, Amapá, Acre, Rondônia
Concentrated in falling water and the dry season (July to November), when the lakes drop.
Daytime. Feeds during the day on the bottom and in the vegetation.
Cold snaps (friagem) keep the school still.
Little known effect.
Little known effect.
Little effect.
A falling lake concentrates the school.
The school sinks noisily.
Little effect.
Shallow bottom, 0.5 to 4 m.
natural baits
accessories
It is a net fish. For live peacock bass bait, first check whether local rules allow it.
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 national list (Portaria GM/MMA 1.667/2026).
In AP the branquinha (Potamorhina latior and other branquinhas) is in Annex II of the ordinance, with fishing prohibited from Nov 15 to Mar 15. Under art. 2 of the ordinance, anglers fishing with a handline or pole, line and hook are exempt from this ban, unless a stricter state rule applies; during the period the angler's limit is 5 kg + 1 fish.
Closed season for curimatã, piau, sardine and branquinha in the RN basins.
Source: IN IBAMA nº 209/2008
Closed season for curimatã, piau, sardine and branquinha in the Paraíba basins.
Source: IN IBAMA nº 210/2008
Allowed: All fishing modalities are prohibited in rivers, including catch and release (Law 9.096/2009, art. 19-A). Exceptions: subsistence fishing from shore (3 kg or 1 fish, no transport or sale) and scientific fishing. Law 13.159/2025 now allows licensed sport fishing in UHE/PCH hydropower reservoirs, natural lakes and border rivers, subject to a scientific study and a license from the environmental agency. We have not confirmed whether these licenses are already being issued.
Allowed: The same recreational-angler exceptions as in Portaria 48/2007 apply (handline or rod, 5 kg + 1 fish), unless a stricter state rule applies.
Source: Portaria IBAMA nº 48/2007
Allowed: Recreational anglers with handline or rod, line and hook are outside the Annex II prohibitions, with a bag limit of 5 kg + 1 fish, unless a stricter state rule applies.
Source: Portaria IBAMA nº 48/2007
Allowed: Subsistence fishing only.
Source: Portaria IBAMA nº 48/2007
Allowed: See the exceptions in Portaria 48/2007 and the state rules for each bank.
Source: Portaria IBAMA nº 48/2007
Fragile fish: release it quickly, without squeezing.
Fatty meat with bones; fried well done, with fine cuts.
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01622, b = 3.0; FishBase). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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The season weights (months), the time of day and the sensitivities (cold, pressure, moon, wind, rain, tide, strong light, murky water and noise) are the app's editorial estimates, based on the literature below and on the field experience of anglers and guides. They are not official data nor a measurement made for this species, and they may vary by region and year. Closed seasons and legal rules appear in the rules section, with the norm and a link.
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