| Pygopristis denticulata | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
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| Family: | Serrasalmidae |
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| Genus: | Pygopristis J. P. Müller & Troschel, 1844 |
| Species: | P. denticulata |
| Binomial name | |
| Pygopristis denticulata (G. Cuvier, 1819) | |
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Pygopristis denticulata is a species of piranha. 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.[1] Specimens of this species is frequently found in acidic clear or black waters. They usually feed on aquatic insects, small fish, and fruits.[2]
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.[3]
P. denticulata grows to about 20.0 cm (7.9 in) in TL.[1] It has 62 chromosomes.[3] This fish possesses powerful dentition that can cause serious bites. It has scales.[1]
References
- ^ a b c Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2007). "Pygopristis denticulata" in FishBase. July 2007 version.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.