Piaractus brachypomus
Pirapatinga
NS
GNR
Collection Details
Specimens
Photos
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Characiformes (Characins)
Serrasalmidae (Piranhas and Pacus)
Piaractus
Piaractus brachypomus (Pirapatinga)
Description
This species account was compiled from
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Characters
Body shape: short and / or deep.
Distribution
South America: Amazon and Orinoco River basins (Ref. 39031). Reported from Argentina (Ref. 9086).
Habitat Associations
Freshwater. pelagic. Found in: streams.
Biology
Juveniles mimic Serrasalmus nattereri. Feeds on insects and decaying plants (Ref. 32894). Possesses powerful dentition that can cause serious bites (Ref. 4537). An important foodfish (Ref. 12202).
Max length: 88.0 cm TL; max weight: 25000 g; max age: 28 years.
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external; nonguarders (brood hiders). Assuming standard charicid mode of reproduction. Replace ASAP.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2020-12-21. Resilience: Low (tm=7; tmax=28).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish; aquaculture: commercial; aquarium: commercial.
References
Ortega, H. and R.P. Vari (1986) Annotated checklist of the freshwater fishes of Peru. Smithson. Contrib. Zool. (437):1-25. DOI: 10.5479/si.00810282.437
Val, A.L. and V.M.F. de Almeida-Val (1995) Fishes of the Amazon and their environment: physiological and biochemical aspect. Springer-Verlag Berlin, Germany. 245 p.
Jégu, M. (2003) Serrasalminae (Pacus and piranhas). p. 182-196. In R.E. Reis, S.O. Kullander and C.J. Ferraris, Jr. (eds.) Checklist of the Freshwater Fishes of South and Central America. Porto Alegre: EDIPUCRS, Brasil.
IGFA (2001) Database of IGFA angling records until 2001. IGFA, Fort Lauderdale, USA.
Comments On Piaractus brachypomus