Pygopristis denticulata

Pygopristis denticulata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Characiformes
Family:	Serrasalmidae
Tribe:	Piranha
Genus:	Pygopristis; J. P. Müller & Troschel, 1844
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. 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

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.
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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[fishbase-1] Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2007). "Pygopristis denticulata" in FishBase. July 2007 version.

[2] 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.

[Freeman-3] 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.