Jiripoca is the popular name for the freshwater fish called jurupoca.
In some regions it is also known as jerupoca. It is a leathery fish, with a dark coloration, ranging from brown to greenish, with oval black spots, aligned along the length of the body.
The jiripoca has a small head in relation to its elongated body, but it has a huge upward-facing mouth, with a jaw larger than the upper jaw. It can reach 60 cm in length and weigh up to 3 kg in weight.
The jiripoca (jurupoca) is a fish of the family of (Hemisorubin platyrhynchos). Its name is of Tupi origin and comes from its characteristic mouth, with the jaw projected forward – “yuru” (mouth) and “poka" (blast off).
Jiripoca has a very tasty meat and is found in several rivers in the North and Center-West regions, as well as in the states of São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul.
Jiripoca usually swims on the surface of rivers and emits a sound similar to a bird's call, which gave rise to the popular expression, “jiripoca will chirp”.
Learn more about the meaning of Jiripoca will chirp.