Taxonomy & naming
Myloplus sauron Pereira, Ota, Machado, Collins, Ândrade, Garcia-Ayala, Jégu, Farias & Hrbek in Machado et al., 2024 is the valid name in the Catalog of Fishes. Myloplus is a genus of pacus and silver dollars (Serrasalmidae), and the 2024 paper described a group of new species within it.
Morphology
Morphological detail is not recorded in the sources available to the atlas. Like other Myloplus it is a deep-bodied, laterally compressed pacu. See the original description for diagnostic characters.
Habitat
The type locality is the Rio Xingu below the Tamaracá waterfall, on the right bank near the BR-230 road, Anapu municipality, Pará, Brazil (about 3°08'S, 51°37'W). Rapids and waterfalls characterise this part of the Xingu. Further habitat detail is not recorded in available sources.
Feeding
Diet in the wild is not recorded for this species. Myloplus are mostly herbivores and frugivores with grinding teeth; large aquarium specimens need vegetable-heavy food.
Mating
Not recorded in available sources.
Breeding
Breeding has not been documented for this species. Silver dollars and pacus in general scatter their eggs, but that describes the group, not this fish.
In the aquarium
Sold by Wet Spot under its scientific name. Adult size is not recorded here, but Myloplus species are generally large, so plan for a big tank and expect them to eat soft plants. Keep a group in warm, clean water.
Conservation
Not evaluated by the IUCN Red List as far as the atlas knows, having been described only in 2024. Pacus are fished for food in much of their range, but nothing is documented for this species.