matrinchã-do-orinoco
Brycon whitei
Matrinchã from the upper Orinoco basin, in Colombia and Venezuela, up to 38 cm. It is a sport fish and shows up in rod-and-reel fishing.
Also called: matrinchã-do-orinoco, matrinchã, bocón, palambra
- maximum
- 38 cm
who is the matrinchã-do-orinoco
The Orinoco matrinchã is a freshwater bryconid, reaching 38 cm standard length. It lives in the upper Orinoco basin, in Colombia and Venezuela, between the bottom and the midwater, in rivers that make migrations within the basin itself. It is considered a sport fish, so anglers seek it out. Like matrinchãs in general, it eats fruit and insects. Bocón and palambra are names used in Colombia and Venezuela.
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 matrinchã-do-orinoco; in the meantime, see the similar species.
identification
Fusiform characin of normal shape, typical of matrinchãs. The name bocón, used locally, refers to the big mouth. It resembles other matrinchãs in the family, so the area tells them apart: this one lives in the upper Orinoco basin, while the Colombian matrinchã lives in the trans-Andean basins of Colombia. It reaches 38 cm.
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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.
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
Upper Orinoco basin, in Colombia and Venezuela, in freshwater rivers. Does not occur in Brazil.
Habitat: Freshwater rivers of the upper Orinoco basin, with migrations within the rivers themselves.
rules for the matrinchã-do-orinoco
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
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.
Sport fish with a robust body: hold it with both hands, remove the hook from its mouth and release it right away, supporting the body.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01413, b = 3.05; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa pelo gênero e formato do corpo)). 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: Brycon whitei (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Brycon whiteiNames by country and language.
