Charales (fish)

Lore & Background

Charales are silvery-white, pale gray-brown, or dull yellowish fish with a long horizontal line on the side of the body. They range in size from under 10 cm to over 40 cm. As filter feeders, they consume small organisms such as copepods, cladocerans, rotifers, insect larvae, and fish eggs. They are oviparous with external fertilization, and females lay a few hundred to a few thousand eggs per spawning.

Reader's Guide

The charales (Chirostoma) are significant as a heavily fished food source in the Lerma River basin, particularly around Lake Chapala and Lake Pátzcuaro. Their culinary use includes frying with salt and lemon, or adding to omelettes and pancakes. However, their populations have declined sharply: three species are extinct (C. bartoni in 2006, C. charari in 1957, C. compressum in 1900), and four others have not been recorded recently and may also be extinct. Threats include pollution, water extraction, drought, introduced species, and overfishing. Some species, such as C. estor, are aquacultured, and C. humboldtianum has been bred in captivity, offering potential for conservation and sustainable use. The genus also hybridizes readily, and the related Poblana species are sometimes included in Chirostoma.

Did You Know?

• Three Chirostoma species are extinct: C. bartoni (2006), C. charari (2000), and C. compressum (1996).
• Charales are filter feeders that eat planktonic organisms, including copepods, cladocerans, and fish eggs.