Pygopristis denticulata

Pygopristis denticulata is a species of piranha and is the only species of the genus Pygopristis. It is a rare South American fish found in the Orinoco River basin, north and eastern Guiana Shield rivers, and tributaries of the lower Amazon River.^[1] Specimens of this species is frequently found in acid clear or black waters. Usually feed on aquatic insects, small fish and fruits (Machado-Allison and Fink, 1996).

Pygopristis has pentacuspid teeth and a middle cusp that is usually only slightly larger than the other cusps. This is unlike other piranha, which have tricuspid teeth with a larger middle cusp making the teeth appear triangular.^[2]

P. denticulata grows to about 20.0 centimetres (7.9 in) TL.^[1] P. denticulata has 62 chromosomes.^[2]

This fish possesses powerful dentition that can cause serious bites. It has scales.^[1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "Pygopristis denticulata". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. July 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.
2. ^ ^{a b} Freeman, Barbie; Nico, Leo G.; Osentoski, Matthew; Jelks, Howard L.; Collins, Timothy M. (2007). "Molecular systematics of Serrasalmidae: Deciphering the identities of piranha species and unraveling their evolutionary histories" (PDF). Zootaxa 1484: 1–38. http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2007f/zt01484p038.pdf. 

• Machado-Allison, A. and W. Fink (1996). Los Peces Caribes de Venezuela. Diagnosis, claves, aspectos ecológicos y evolutivos. Universidad Central de Venezuela, CDCV. (Colección Monografías), Caracas, ISBN-980-00-0967-1, 149p.

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