News
SpeciesScientists Discover Mysterious New Fish in the Red Sea – and Have Never Seen It AgainOceanEye to eye with Britain's hidden sharks at SharkAdemy - OceanographicRiversIn October, biologists surveying a New York harbor for invasive fish pulled up a bright yellow one. It wasn't an invasive species at allOceanShedd Aquarium Sends Shark Eggs to Bolster Wild PopulationsSpeciesA rare fish has been found in Lake Ontario, North America, whose entire body is golden. It is a nati..OceanThe Great Sea Reef Is Fiji’s Wildest Dive, and a New Frontier for ConservationOceanEckerd College professor contributes to designating Biscayne Bay an Important Shark and Ray AreaSpeciesRio Verde Grande Survey Identifies Fifty-Three Fish Species Facing Flow ReductionsFisheriesAdams River Salmon Run in Thompson-NicolaIndiaHilsa production dropped 26% in five years, fisheries minister tells parliamentSpeciesScientists Discover Mysterious New Fish in the Red Sea – and Have Never Seen It AgainOceanEye to eye with Britain's hidden sharks at SharkAdemy - OceanographicRiversIn October, biologists surveying a New York harbor for invasive fish pulled up a bright yellow one. It wasn't an invasive species at allOceanShedd Aquarium Sends Shark Eggs to Bolster Wild PopulationsSpeciesA rare fish has been found in Lake Ontario, North America, whose entire body is golden. It is a nati..OceanThe Great Sea Reef Is Fiji’s Wildest Dive, and a New Frontier for ConservationOceanEckerd College professor contributes to designating Biscayne Bay an Important Shark and Ray AreaSpeciesRio Verde Grande Survey Identifies Fifty-Three Fish Species Facing Flow ReductionsFisheriesAdams River Salmon Run in Thompson-NicolaIndiaHilsa production dropped 26% in five years, fisheries minister tells parliament
EveryFish
Uaru sp.

Uaru

A large South American cichlid from clear Amazon streams.

Photo: Herbisius, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The uaru is a cichlid species native to the clear waters of the Amazon Basin in South America. It grows up to 25 centimetres and serves as both a food source for local communities and a popular specimen in the aquarium trade.

Share on WhatsApp

  • Native to clear streams in the Amazon Basin.
  • Grows up to 25 centimetres in length.
  • Used as a food fish by native peoples.
  • Popular in the freshwater aquarium trade.

What it is

The uaru, also known as the triangle cichlid, is a freshwater fish belonging to the cichlid family. It has a distinctive body shape that gives it its common name. Adults can reach a standard length of 25 centimetres. This species is native to South America and is adapted to life in specific riverine environments.

Where it lives

This fish is found exclusively in the Amazon Basin of South America. It inhabits clear streams within this vast river system. The preference for clear water distinguishes its habitat from the murky conditions found in other parts of the Amazon. It does not occur in coastal or marine environments.

How it lives

Information regarding the specific diet, schooling behaviour, and natural predators of the uaru is not detailed in the available records. As a cichlid, it likely exhibits complex social interactions typical of the family, but specific behavioural traits for this species require further observation in its natural habitat.

Breeding and life cycle

Details on the spawning habits, egg care, and growth rates of young uaru are not provided in the current documentation.

Uaru
A drawing made by EveryFish from what this page says. It is a diagram, not a picture of the real fish.

Fish and people

Local indigenous peoples value the uaru as a source of food. Beyond its role in subsistence fishing, the species has entered the global aquarium trade. Its unique appearance and size make it a notable choice for hobbyists who maintain large freshwater tanks.

Status and threats

No specific protection programmes or population assessments are cited.

Questions people ask about Uaru

Where does the uaru live?

The uaru is native to South America, specifically inhabiting the clear streams of the Amazon Basin. It is a freshwater species that does not live in brackish or saltwater environments.

How big does the uaru get?

This species can reach a maximum standard length of 25 centimetres, which is approximately 9.8 inches. This size makes it a medium-to-large candidate for spacious aquarium setups.

Is the uaru eaten by people?

Yes, the uaru is of importance as a food fish for native peoples in its range. It is harvested from local streams and consumed as part of traditional diets in the Amazon region.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Uaru amphiacanthoides", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryFish rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes, and figures change over time. Nothing here is investment or buying advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-11-15.

Like Uaru

All cichlids
WorldCichlid Diverse freshwater fish family known for parental care and rapid evolution.Cichlid · Rivers and lakes · 1835 🇧🇷 Brazil and 3 moreOscar Large South American cichlid popular in aquariumsCichlid · Rivers and lakes · 1831 🇧🇮 Burundi and 3 moreGiant cichlid The largest living cichlid species, native to Lake Tanganyika in Africa.Cichlid · Rivers and lakes · 1899 🇭🇳 Honduras and 3 moreJaguar cichlid Large predatory cichlid from Central American lakesCichlid · Rivers and lakes

More from Cichlidae

All of them
🇧🇷 BrazilDiscus Round, colourful cichlids from the Amazon basin.Cichlid · Rivers and lakes · 1840 🇧🇷 BrazilPterophyllum A genus of laterally compressed freshwater cichlids known as angelfish.Cichlid · Rivers and lakes · 1824 🇬🇹 Guatemala and 4 moreConvict cichlid Striped Central American cichlid popular in home aquariumsCichlid · Rivers and lakes · 1867 WorldHaplochromis A large ray-finned fish genus from East Africa known for rapid evolution and aquarium popularity.Cichlid · Rivers and lakes · 1888

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

The weekly digest

Every Monday: the fish of the day, new pages on EveryFish, and the conferences and anniversaries of the week ahead.