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fishing forecast

acary avion

Acanthicus adonis · Loricariidae · detritivore

Freshwateressential profile

Armored catfish up to 20.6 cm, from the lower Tocantins River. It has commercial and aquarium use, but hardly appears in sport fishing.

Also called: cascudo-avião, acary avion

Scientific illustration of Acary avion
maximum
21 cm
location

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period

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the species

everything about the acary avion

overview

who is the acary avion

The cascudo-avião belongs to the family Loricariidae, with an elongated body covered in bony plates and a suckermouth on the underside. It reaches 20.6 cm standard length. It lives on the bottom of freshwater rivers in the lower Tocantins, in waters of 23 to 27 degrees, with a pH of 6 to 7. It has commercial and aquarium use, but is hardly a target for sport fishing. It belongs to the genus Acanthicus, the spiny armored catfish.

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 acary avion; in the meantime, see the similar species.

how to recognize it

identification

Armored catfish with an elongated body covered in plates and a suckermouth on the underside. It belongs to the same genus as the cascudo-carachama (Acanthicus hystrix), which lives in the Amazon basin, and the two species look alike. The lower Tocantins River is where this species is recorded, and the location is the best aid to identifying it.

distribution

where found

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Recorded in the lower Tocantins River, in Brazil, in freshwater rivers.

Habitat: Bottom of tropical freshwater rivers, with a pH of 6 to 7.

native to the basins

Tocantins-Araguaia
what the law says

rules for the acary avion

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.

piracema closures in the basins where the species lives

Closed season in Goiás (state rule)

01/11 to 28/02GO

Allowed: Sport and guided fishing only in reservoirs, catch and release with barbless hooks (no keeping, transporting or eating). Subsistence: up to 5 kg per day, for household consumption only.

Source: IN Semad-GO nº 17/2026, arts. 8º to 11

Spawning closure (piracema) in Mato Grosso (all basins)

01/10 to 31/01MT

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.

Source: IN Interministerial MAPA/MMA nº 10/2017; Resolução Cepesca-MT nº 1/2026; Lei estadual MT nº 9.096/2009, arts. 19-A and 27 (Leis 12.434/2024 and 13.159/2025)

Spawning closure (piracema) in the Araguaia River basin

01/11 to 28/02GOTOPAMT

Allowed: Recreational fishing only in reservoirs, with handline, rod, or spinning or baitcasting reel. Fish may only be eaten on site, not transported. Competitions prohibited. Subsistence: 3 kg + 1 fish. State rules (GO and TO) may be stricter.

Source: IN Interministerial MPA/MMA nº 12/2011

Spawning closure (piracema) in the Tocantins and Gurupi river basins

01/11 to 28/02TOPAMAGO

Allowed: Recreational fishing only in reservoirs, with on-site consumption. Subsistence: 5 kg + 1 fish. State rules may be stricter.

Source: IN Interministerial MPA/MMA nº 13/2011

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.

Not dangerous. The body plates can hurt your hand; hold it by the trunk, carefully, and return it to the water.

calculator

how much it weighs without taking it out of the water

Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01549, b = 2.96; 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.

  1. scientific FishBase: Acanthicus adonis (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
  2. scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Acanthicus adonisNames by country and language.
  3. 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.
don't confuse

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