WHATSTHATFISH
Log inSign up
Bony fish

Blackspot Piranha

Pygocentrus cariba

Also known as: Black-eared Piranha, Blackshoulder Piranha, Cariba Piranha, Orinoco Piranha, Red-bellied Piranha, Red Piranha

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2023
Handle with careLook, don't touch
Add a photo
Adult
1
@megadeth1876 · Tientsin, China · December 20131 / 2
01

Overview

Found in schools, over freshwater, flooded forests, lakes, rivers and streams.
Widespread South America

Piranha's have a fearsome reputation (because of James bond 007) as a voracious predator that can strip flesh off bones in minutes, although they have razor sharp teeth they are in fact quite timid scavengers.

02

How to identify

COLOURS
Pattern
black spotspots
Behaviour
schooling

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Country only · 2
LIVES IN

Found in schools, over freshwater, flooded forests, lakes, rivers and streams.

04

Adult photos 2

05

Discussion

Comments are checked by a moderator before they appear.

No comments yet. Seen one, or got a question about it? Start the discussion.

    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderCharaciformes
    5. familySerrasalmidae
    6. genusPygocentrus
    7. speciesPygocentrus cariba (Humboldt, 1821)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Piranhas-Pacus (Serrasalmidae)

    Cachama

    Colossoma macropomum

    9 photos

    Pirambeba

    Serrasalmus humeralis

    0 photos

    Red-bellied Piranha

    Pygocentrus nattereri

    1 photo

    Redhook Myleus

    Myloplus rubripinnis

    3 photos

    Silver Dollar

    Metynnis hypsauchen

    1 photo

    Silver Dollar - M.Argenteus

    Metynnis argenteus

    1 photo

    Spotted Metynnis

    Metynnis maculatus

    2 photos