Pygopristis

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Pygopristis
File:Aquarium tropical du Palais de la Porte Dorée - Pygopristis denticulata (cropped).jpg
File:Lepidophagous fish (cropped).jpg
Scientific classification Edit this 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]
  • Pygopristis serrulatus Serrasalmus denticulatus
  • Cuvier, 1819 Jardine, 1841
  • Valenciennes, 1850 Serrasalmus serrulatus
  • Pygopristis fumarius (Valenciennes, 1850)
  • Serrasalmus punctatus J. Müller & Troschel, 1844

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]

Biology

[edit | edit source]

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

[edit | edit source]

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]

[edit | edit source]

References

[edit | edit source]
  1. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  2. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  3. ^ a b c Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  4. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  5. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  6. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  7. ^ a b c Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).

Lua error in Module:Taxonbar at line 165: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).