A fish whose ancestors swam back in the age of the dinosaurs is now getting a chance at revival thanks to human efforts. In Guatemala, after seven years of work, specialists achieved the first captive breeding of the pejelagarto (Atractosteus tropicus) and released about a thousand fry into a natural lagoon.
This species, known to local residents as the "machorra," inhabits freshwater rivers and estuaries along the Pacific coast of Central America. Adults reach 1,2 meter in length and weigh up to 10 kilograms. The pejelagarto is a true "living fossil": its morphology has remained virtually unchanged for more than 100 million years. In the wild, the population is declining because of illegal fishing, water pollution and droughts that are intensifying under the influence of climatic phenomena.
The project was carried out by the Center for Marine Conservation (CCM) and La Aurora Zoo with technical support from a Mexican university. After a successful spawning in September 2026, fry measuring 3–4 centimeters were transported by boat to the Güiscoyol lagoon in the department of Santa Rosa. The choice of precisely this age is explained by the fact that the fish have not yet grown accustomed to artificial feed and adapt better in the natural environment.
The researchers compared different feeds for the fry: when trout feed was used, survival was about 30 percent, and for tilapia feed, roughly 17 percent. These data will help optimize future breeding programs. The released individuals will now be monitored to assess growth, survival and adaptability to the wild.
The success of the Guatemalan project demonstrates how technology transfer between countries can accelerate the conservation of rare species. International cooperation made it possible to overcome years of difficulties with captive reproduction and move on to the stage of monitoring in the natural environment.
Further observation results will show how effective this approach proves to be for strengthening the pejelagarto population in the region.
