Pygocentrus piraya

(Cuvier, 1819)

Vernacular names
English : San Francisco piranha
French : Piranha de San Francisco

Classification
Class : Teleostei
Order : Characiformes
Family : Serrasalmidae (sometimes Characidae)
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
The species can grow over 50 cm in length but is mostly around 30 cm, largest of piranha species. Large mouth, dark grey head, upper flanks are dark grey, lower flanks and belly are golden yellow. Silvery dots on scales all over flanks.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in South America and is endemic to the Sao Francisco river basin in Brazil. Lives in freshwater creeks, interconnected ponds and slow-moving rivers.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species doesn’t have a big range. It is occasionally collected for the aquarium trade throughout its range.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

Back to “South-American characins” page