Peacock Bass

Amazon · predator · cichlid · South America

Colorful spotted predators. Peacock bass have beautiful patterns with dark spots and stripes, which is why they got their "peacock" name. These big freshwater fish are some of the most colorful hunters in the Amazon River.

Ambush hunting experts. They are diurnal predators, meaning they hunt during the day by hiding and waiting to ambush their prey. With their large mouths and powerful jaws, they can catch and eat other fish that swim by.

Amazon and Orinoco homes. Peacock bass live in tropical South America, mainly in the Amazon and Orinoco river basins and rivers of the Guianas. These warm river systems give them the perfect home to grow big and strong.

Not true bass at all. Even though they're called "bass," peacock bass are actually cichlids and aren't closely related to North American largemouth bass. Scientists put them in their own special genus called Cichla because they're so different.

Many names around the world. In Brazil, people call them "tucunaré," while in Spanish-speaking countries they're known as "pavon." These names are used just as much as the English name "peacock bass."