Serrasalminae

Natterers Sägesalmler ( Pygocentrus nattereri )

The Sägesalmler ( Serrasalmidae ) are a family of Characins ( Characiformes ). They live in tropical South America, with the exception of the area west of the Andes. Among them is the Black Pacu ( Colossoma macropomum ) is the largest tetras.

Features

All Sägesalmler have a high-backed disc-shaped body and are schooling fish. A characteristic feature is the strong dentition, consisting of a series of sharp incisors and the herbivorous tetras the genera Colossoma, Metynnis, Myleus and Mylossoma of two rows of incisors and molars at the carnivores of the genera Pristobrycon, Pygocentrus, Pygopristis and Serrasalmus. The pennant Piranha ( Catoprion mento ) is a dietary specialist who feeds on the scales of other fish.

System

In the family of Sägesalmler there are 19 genera with about 90 species. The predominantly carnivorous Sägesalmler form a scientific yet unnamed clade of five species. The species of this clade are generally referred to as piranhas.

In total, over 90 species have been described:

• Acnodon Acnodon normani Gosline, 1951
• Acnodon oligacanthus ( Müller & Troschel, 1844)
• Acnodon senai Jégu & Santos, 1990

• Black Pacu ( Colossoma macropomum )

• Mylesinus paraschomburgkii Jégu, Santos and Ferreira, 1989
• Mylesinus paucisquamatus Jégu & Santos, 1988
• Mylesinus schomburgkii Valenciennes, 1850

• Myloplus planquettei Jégu, Keith & Le Bail, 2003
• Myloplus rubripinnis ( Müller & Troschel, 1844)

• Eagle's beak - Pacu ( Ossubtus xinguense )

• Tometes camunani Andrade, Giarrizzo, Jégu, 2013
• Tometes lebaili Jégu, Keith & Belmont Jégu, 2002
• Tometes Makue Jégu, Santos & Belmont Jégu, 2002
• Tometes trilobatus Valenciennes, 1850

• Utiaritichthys longidorsalis Jégu, Tito de Morais & Santos, 1992
• Utiaritichthys sennaebragai Miranda Ribeiro, 1937

Piranhas

• Pennant Piranha ( Catoprion mento )
• Pristobrycon (5 species)
• Pygocentrus (4 species)
• Pygopristis denticulata
• Serrasalmus (31 species)