Pygocentrus

Last updated

Pygocentrus
Piranha1.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Characiformes
Family: Serrasalmidae
Subfamily: Serrasalminae
Genus: Pygocentrus
J. P. Müller & Troschel, 1844
Type species
Serrasalmus piraya
G. Cuvier, 1819 [1]
Synonyms [1]

Pygocentrus is a genus of freshwater ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Serrasalmidae, which includes the pacus, piranhas and related fishes. All species are native to tropical and subtropical South America. All the species are predatory, scavengers and may form large schools. The famous red-bellied piranha, Pygocentrus nattereri, is one of four species in the genus. [2]

Species

These are the currently recognized species in this genus: [3]

Pygocentrus palometa Valenciennes, 1850 is regarded as a nomen dubium . [3]

References

  1. 1 2 Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Serrasalminae". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  2. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Species in genus Pygocentrus". FishBase . April 2013 version.
  3. 1 2 Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Pygocentrus". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 19 July 2025.