Semaprochilodus taeniurus
The thin-scale brother of the thick-scale jaraquí. Same schools, same migrations, and the same place on the Amazonian plate.
Also called: jaraqui, jaraqui-escama-fina, jaraqui-de-escama-fina
School-forming detritivore, it eats mud, algae and organic debris scraped from the bottom and submerged logs. It shares rivers and lakes with the thick-scale jaraquí in central Amazonia and makes the same migrations tied to the flood and the falling water, spawning where blackwater meets muddy water. In Manaus landings, the two jaraquís show up together and make up one of the largest volumes of fish sold in the city. The thin-scale usually sells for a little more, because its meat is considered fattier. Like its cousin, it hardly bites a hook: it's a net fish.
Tall, silver body, with small, numerous scales. Sucker mouth with fleshy lips. Forked tail with bold black and clear diagonal bands on both lobes. The practical difference from the thick-scale is scale size: on the thin-scale they are visibly smaller.
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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.
Central Amazon: Rio Negro and other blackwater and clearwater tributaries, the Solimões-Amazonas channel, the lower Madeira and várzea lakes.
Habitat: Blackwater and clearwater rivers, várzea lakes, igapó in flood and river channel during migrations.
native to the basins
states
Amazonas, Pará, Rondônia
Most concentrated during falling water and the dry season (July to November in central Amazonas), and at the start of the flood, when they move down to spawn.
Daytime. Feeds during the day; during migration the school moves at any hour.
Cold snaps (friagem) keep the school still.
Little known effect.
Little known effect.
A rising river with the rains drives the spawning migration.
Falling water concentrates; the flood spreads the school through the flooded forest.
The school sinks when a motor is nearby.
Little effect.
Mid-water and bottom, 1 to 6 m.
natural baits
accessories
Net fish. Anyone who wants to try on a hook needs groundbait and soft dough, with a small hook.
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 AC the jaraquí (Semaprochilodus spp.) 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.
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 mouth: remove the hook carefully and release quickly.
Fatty, tasty meat with bones. Fried with fine cuts along the back, or grilled over coals.
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01622, b = 2.96; 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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