Serrasalmus

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Serrasalmus
Temporal range: Middle Miocene–present
Serrasalmus rhombeus 205142615 (cropped).jpg
S. rhombeus at Carauari, Brazil
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Characiformes
Family: Serrasalmidae
Subfamily: Serrasalminae
Genus: Serrasalmus
Lacepède, 1803
Type species
Salmo rhombeus
Linnaeus, 1766 [1]
Species

See text

Synonyms [1]

Serrasalmus is a genus of freshwater ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Serrasalmidae, which includes the pacus, piranhas and related fishes. They are collectively known as pirambebas; the "typical" piranhas like the piraya piranha are nowadays placed in Pygocentrus . Like all piranhas, Serrasalmus are native to South America.

Contents

One species, S. humeralis , was able to temporarily establish a breeding population in Florida before being eradicated in 1981. [2] [3]

Description

Serrasalmus species have sharp teeth and generally have a compressed rhomboid shape. [4] [ verification needed ] In some, the shape is more ovoid, particularly in old specimens. There is also a high variation in color patterns found within this genus. [4] [ verification needed ] Some Serrasalmus species can exceed 20 in or 510 mm (S. manueli and S. rhombeus, according to OPEFE), placing them among the largest Serrasalmidae.[ citation needed ]

Diet

Serrasalmus species are primarily piscivorous, with varying degrees of propensity for omnivory depending on the species. Plant material ingested may include fruits and seeds. [5]

Evolution

Pericentric inversions are likely responsible for many of the chromosomal differences in Serrasalmus. [6] [7]

Fossil record

Middle Miocene-aged fossil tooth remains of a serrasalmid potentially referable to Serrasalmus are known from the Pebas Formation of Peru. The genus otherwise does not have a fossil record. [8]

Species

Serrasalmus elongatus Serrasalmus elongatus 205539269.jpg
Serrasalmus elongatus

These are the recognized species in this genus: [9]

References

  1. 1 2 Fricke, Ron; Eschmeyer, William N. & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Serrasalminae". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  2. ↑ Shafland, Paul L.; Foote, Karen Jo (1979). "A Reproducing Population of Serrasalmus Humeralis Valenciennes in Southern Florida". Florida Scientist. 42 (4): 206–214. ISSN   0098-4590. JSTOR   24319655.
  3. ↑ "Serrasalmus humeralis". FishBase.
  4. 1 2 Fink, William L.; Machado-Allison (March 16, 2001). "Serrasalmus Hastatus, A New Species of Piranha From Brazil, With Comments On Serrasalmus Altuvei And Serrasalmus Compressus (Teleostei: Characiformes)". backend.production.deepblue-documents. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  5. ↑ Prudente, Bruno da S.; Carneiro-Marinho, Pedro; Valente, Roberta de M.; Montag, Luciano F. de A. (2016). "Feeding ecology of Serrasalmus gouldingi (Characiformes: Serrasalmidae) in the lower Anapu River region, Eastern Amazon, Brazil". Acta Amazonica. 46 (3): 259–270. Bibcode:2016AcAma..46..259P. doi:10.1590/1809-4392201600123. ISSN   0044-5967.
  6. ↑ Nakayama, Celeste Mutuko; Rebelo Porto, Jorge Ivan; Feldberg, Eliana (2002-04-01). "A Comparative Cytogenetic Study of Five Piranha Species (Serrasalmus, Serrasalminae) from the Amazon Basin". Genetica. 114 (3): 231–236. doi:10.1023/A:1016275505655. ISSN   1573-6857. PMID   12206361.
  7. ↑ Martins-Santos, I. C.; Julio-Jr, H. F.; Santos, S. J. (1994). "Chromosome Study of Two Species of the Genus Serrasalmus (Characidae, Serrasalminae) from the Parana River". Cytologia. 59 (2): 175–181. doi:10.1508/cytologia.59.175.
  8. ↑ Carrillo-Briceño, Jorge D.; Aguilera, Orangel A.; Benites-Palomino, Aldo; Hsiou, Annie S.; Birindelli, José L. O.; Adnet, Sylvain; Cadena, Edwin-Alberto; Scheyer, Torsten M. (2021-12-20). "A historical vertebrate collection from the Middle Miocene of the Peruvian Amazon". Swiss Journal of Palaeontology. 140 (1): 26. Bibcode:2021SwJP..140...26C. doi: 10.1186/s13358-021-00239-7 . ISSN   1664-2384.
  9. ↑ Fricke, Ron; Eschmeyer, William N. & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Serrasalmus". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 21 July 2025.
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