Red-bellied piranha

Pygocentrus nattereri

Fifty Centimeters Serrasalmid Fish of the Brazilian Coast

Red
Tropical
Coastal
Southern Hemisphere
Regional distribution
Freshwater fish
South America
Deep-bodied
Compressed cross-section
Medium
Tropical fish

The red-bellied piranha, also known as the red piranha (Pygocentrus nattereri), is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Serrasalmidae, which includes the pacus, piranhas and related fishes. The red-bellied piranha occurs in South America, found in the Amazon, Paraguay, Paraná and Essequibo basins, as well as coastal rivers of northeastern Brazil. This fish is locally abundant in its freshwater habitat.

Class: Teleosts
Order: Characins
Family: Serrasalmidae
Genus: Pygocentrus
Maximum length: 50 cm
Water: Freshwater
Body shape: deep_bodied
Distribution: South America: Amazon River basin, Paraguay-Paraná River basin, northeastern Brazilian coastal rivers and Essequibo River basin (Ref. 39031 ). Reported from the Uruguay River, Brazil (Ref. 79585 ).

Report a correction