Acre River capture of giant bodó-cavalo catfish

A giant fish of the species bodó-cascudo, also known as bodó-cavalo, was captured in the Acre River. The specimen measured approximately one meter in length, significantly exceeding the species average of about 40 centimeters.

The catch was made by a fishing influencer, who subsequently released the animal back into the water. The bodó-cavalo belongs to the Siluriformes family, a group of freshwater catfish native to South America and predominantly found in the Amazon Basin.

Characterized by a unique physiology, the fish lacks conventional scales and is instead covered in small bony plates arranged in three to four rows. This structure acts as a form of armor, giving the fish its 'cascudo' (armored) appearance. These plates also allow the species to adapt to adverse habitats, such as turbid or low-oxygen waters.