Description

Puye is considered as the main responsible of the big-sized fishes in rivers and lakes in the South of Chile. This small fish represents a food rich in proteins for trouts and salmons in this region, thus offering a large part of the diet of these species.

Puye have an elongated body, a small and short head with canine tooth upon their jaw and a palate.

Currently, Puye is an endangered species due to an important exploitation and the presence of new predators threatening its existence.

Puye is an indigenous word meaning a little fish from the Lakes and from which comes the name the Puyehue Lake (where Puye live).

Color

The main color is composed of golden and greenish shades. His back and his head are covered by dark small spots and his sides or extremities are covered by elongated spots width ways.

Diet

Puye’s diet is made of very small crustaceans, aquatic insects and worms.

Environment

Puye live by the river and the lake, not much in depth and close to trunks, rocks, obstacles and vegetations.