Pygopristis denticulata

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Pygopristis denticulata
Pygopristis denticulata.jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Actinopterygii
Order:
Characiformes
Family:
Serrasalmidae
Tribe:
Piranha
Genus:
Pygopristis

Species:
P. denticulata
Binomial name
Pygopristis denticulata
(G. Cuvier, 1819)
Synonyms
  • Serrasalmus denticulatus
    G. Cuvier, 1819
  • Serrasalmus punctatus
    Jardine, 1841
  • Pygopristis fumarius
    J. P. Müller & Troschel, 1845

Pygopristis denticulata is a species of piranha. These fish are part of the group Ostariophysi, a large group of freshwater fish that includes minnows and catfishes.[1] It is a rare South American fish found in the Orinoco River basin, north and eastern Guiana Shield rivers, and tributaries of the lower Amazon River.[2] Piranhas typically live in freshwater,[3] but other specimens can be found elsewhere. Specimens of this species is frequently found in acidic clear or black waters. Piranhas are primarily known for being savage, flesh-eating fish, but they actually have broader diets.[4] They usually feed on aquatic insects, small fish, and fruits.[5]

P. denticulata has pentacuspid teeth and a middle cusp that is usually only slightly larger than the other cusps. This is unlike the piranhas, which have tricuspid teeth with a larger middle cusp, making the teeth appear triangular.[6]

P. denticulata grows to about 20.0 cm (7.9 in) in TL.[2] It has 62 chromosomes.[6] This fish possesses powerful dentition that can cause serious bites. It has scales.[2]

References[]

  1. ^ Fink, William L. (1989-01-01). "Ontogeny and phylogeny of shape and diet in the South American fishes called piranhas". Geobios. Ontogenèse Et Évolution. 22: 167–172. doi:10.1016/S0016-6995(89)80017-8. ISSN 0016-6995.
  2. ^ a b c Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2007). "Pygopristis denticulata" in FishBase. July 2007 version.
  3. ^ Fink, William L. (1989-01-01). "Ontogeny and phylogeny of shape and diet in the South American fishes called piranhas". Geobios. Ontogenèse Et Évolution. 22: 167–172. doi:10.1016/S0016-6995(89)80017-8. ISSN 0016-6995.
  4. ^ Fink, William L. (1989-01-01). "Ontogeny and phylogeny of shape and diet in the South American fishes called piranhas". Geobios. Ontogenèse Et Évolution. 22: 167–172. doi:10.1016/S0016-6995(89)80017-8. ISSN 0016-6995.
  5. ^ Machado-Allison, A. and W. Fink (1996). Los Peces Caribes de Venezuela. Diagnosis, claves, aspectos ecológicos y evolutivos. Universidad Central de Venezuela, CDCV. (Colección Monografías), Caracas, ISBN 980-00-0967-1, 149p.
  6. ^ a b Freeman, Barbie; Nico, Leo G.; Osentoski, Matthew; Jelks, Howard L.; Collins, Timothy M. (2007). "Molecular systematics of Serrasalmidae: Deciphering the identities of piranha species and unraveling their evolutionary histories" (PDF). Zootaxa. 1484: 1–38. doi:10.1046/j.1439-0469.2000.384132.x.
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