Pygopristis

Pygopristis is a monospecific genus of freshwater ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Serrasalmidae, which includes the pacus, piranhas and related fishes.. The only species in the genus is Pygopristis denticulata, also known as the lobetoothed piranha,.^[3] This species is a rare South American characiform fish found in the Orinoco River basin, rivers of the northern and eastern Guiana Shield, and tributaries of the lower Amazon River.^[4] Like other piranhas, it is found in freshwater,^[3] with specimens of this species typically found in acidic clearwater or blackwater environments. Despite their ferocious reputation, many piranhas have broader diets;^[3] this species feeds on the scales of other fish as juveniles,^[5] but transitions to a broader diet of aquatic insects, small fish, and fruits as adults.^[6]

Pygopristis
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Characiformes
Family:	Serrasalmidae
Subfamily:	Serrasalminae
Genus:	Pygopristis J. P. Müller & Troschel, 1844
Species:	P. denticulata
Binomial name
Pygopristis denticulata (Cuvier, 1819)
Synonyms[2]
Serrasalmus denticulatus Cuvier, 1819 Serrasalmus punctatus Jardine, 1841 Pygopristis fumarius J. Müller & Troschel, 1844 Pygopristis serrulatus Valenciennes, 1850 Serrasalmus serrulatus (Valenciennes, 1850)

Biology

P. denticulata grows to about 20 cm (7.9 in) in total length.^[4] It has 62 chromosomes.^[7]P. denticulata has pentacuspid teeth and a middle cusp that is usually only slightly larger than the other cusps. This is unlike other piranhas, which have tricuspid teeth with a larger middle cusp, making the teeth appear triangular.^[7]

Taxonomy

Within the family Serrasalmidae, P. denticulata is more closely related to Catoprion than it is to the majority of species traditionally considered true piranhas.^[7]

Gallery

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  Juvenile
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  Dentition