Classification / Names
Noms communs | Synonymes | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Actinoptérygiens (poissons à nageoires rayonnées)
(Characins) > Serrasalmidae
Etymology: Pygocentrus: Greek, pyge = rump + Greek, kentron = sting (Ref. 45335). More on author: Kner.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
; eau douce pélagique; pH range: 5.5 - 7.5; dH range: ? - 20. Subtropical; 23°C - 27°C (Ref. 13371); 9°N - 34°S
South America: Amazon River basin, Paraguay-Paraná River basin, northeastern Brazilian coastal rivers and Essequibo River basin (Ref. 39031). Reported from the Uruguay River, Brazil (Ref. 79585).
Length at first maturity / Taille / Poids / Âge
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - 15 cm
Max length : 50.0 cm SL mâle / non sexé; (Ref. 81048); poids max. publié: 3.9 kg (Ref. 40637)
Épines dorsales (Total): 0; Rayons mous dorsaux (Total): 16-18; Épines anales 0; Rayons mous anaux: 27 - 30
Common in creeks and interconnected ponds in Matto Grosso, Brazil, where it influences distribution and feeding of other fish (Ref. 9080) and in areas of high primary production in Rio Machado and Rio Negro (Ref.9096). Adults feed mainly at dusk and dawn. Feeds on insects, worms and fish (Ref. 7020). Medium-sized to large individuals (15-24 cm length) forage mainly at dawn, late afternoon and night up to about 2200H, whereas smaller fish (8-11 cm) are active mainly during the day (Ref. 9080). Teeth replacement on alternating sides of jaw allows continuous feeding. Its powerful dentition can inflict serious bites. Has a highly evolved auditory capacity and a 'lurking', then 'dashing' behavior during daytime. Shows hierarchies within small schools (Ref. 9077). Available information on body composition of 'piranha caju' flesh is 8.2% fat, 15.0% protein and 4.4% ash (Ref. 9251).
Males and females appear externally alike (Refs. 2279 & 9245). In 'Serrasalmus sp. aff. nattereri', reported to occur in the Orinoco basin (Venezuela, Guyana), the males have more 'bull-like' heads, but are more slender than females (Ref. 1672). Eggs are laid on tree roots trailing in the water and are guarded; the reproductive success may vary strongly from year to year depending on how the savanna was flooded (Ref. 9078). The eggs are large, adhere to plants and are not attacked by the parents. They hatch in 9 to10 days (Ref. 7020).
Fink, W.L., 1993. Revision of the piranha genus Pygocentrus. Copeia 1993(3):665-687. (Ref. 27142)
Statut dans la liste rouge de l'IUCN (Ref. 119314)
CITES (Ref. 115941)
Menace pour l'homme
Traumatogenic (Ref. 4537)
Utilisations par l'homme
Pêcheries: intérêt commercial mineur; Aquarium: Commercial
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Estimates of some properties based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82805
= 0.5625 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.02089 (0.01374 - 0.03177), b=3.16 (3.04 - 3.28), in cm Total Length, based on LWR estimates for this species & (Sub)family-body (Ref. 93245
Niveau trophique (Ref. 69278
): 3.7 ±0.61 se; Based on food items.
Résilience (Ref. 69278
): Milieu, temps minimum de doublement de population : 1,4 à 4,4 années (K=0.89; tm=1; Fec=4,000-5,000).
Vulnérabilité (Ref. 59153
): Low to moderate vulnerability (27 of 100) .