Serrasalmus scapularis

Serrasalmus scapularis
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Characiformes
Family:	Serrasalmidae
Genus:	Serrasalmus
Species:	S. scapularis
Binomial name
Serrasalmus scapularis Günther, 1864
Synonyms
Serrasalmo scapularis Günther, 1864 Serrasalmo (Pygocentrus) striolatus Steindachner, 1908 Pristobrycon striolatus (Steindachner, 1908) Serrasalmus striolatus Steindachner, 1908 Pristobrycon baratai Amaral Campos, 1946 Pygopristis antoni Fernández-Yépez, 1965

Serrasalmus scapularis is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Serrasalmidae, which includes the pacus, piranhas and related fishes. This species is found in the Amazon and Orinoco river systems and in the coastal rivers of the Guiana Shield.

Range and habitat

Serrasalmus scapularis inhabits mainly black or acidic waters in tributaries in the Orinoco and Amazon River Basins.

Description

This small and beautiful fish reaches 10–30 centimetres (3.9–11.8 in). Its body is discoid with the anterodorsal profile slightly curved or straight. The head is robust and wide. Its snout is blunt. A preanal spine is absent. The adipose fin is wide. The head is silver with metallic orange to red at the mandibular and opercular regions. Its iris is yellow. Its body is greenish laterally and a mixture of orange and red at the abdominal area, covered with "pepper-like" spots. It has a single spot in the opercular area above the pectoral fin origin. The fins have reddish tones. Its caudal fin has an angled basal black band.

Feeding

Like other piranhas, Serrasalmus scapularis is a predator, consuming smaller fish and attacking fins. Juveniles eat aquatic insects and crustaceans (shrimps). Occasionally, its diet includes fruits from the surrounding gallery forest. This is a solitary, non-schooling species.