Serrasalmidae

San Francisco piranha

Pygocentrus piraya

Fish Reaching Thirty Eight Centimeters in South American Waters

• Tropical
• Southern Hemisphere
• Regional distribution
• Freshwater fish
• South America
• Medium
• Tropical fish

Pygocentrus piraya, often called the piraya piranha or San Francisco piranha, and sometimes sold as the man-eating piranha, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Serrasalmidae, which includes the pacus, piranhas and related fishes. This fish is found in the São Francisco River basin in Brazil.