''Serrasalmus elongatus'' is a slender and elongated shaped

piranha A piranha or piraña (, , or ; or , ) is one of a number of freshwater fish in the family Serrasalmidae, or the subfamily Serrasalminae within the tetra family, Characidae in order Characiformes. These fish inhabit South American rivers, ...

from the '' S. humeralis'' group. It is commonly known as elongated piranha or

pike Pike, Pikes or The Pike may refer to: Fish * Blue pike or blue walleye, an extinct color morph of the yellow walleye ''Sander vitreus'' * Ctenoluciidae, the "pike characins", some species of which are commonly known as pikes * ''Esox'', genus of ...

piranha in reference to its shape. In its native range it is one of the smaller piranha

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

locally termed ''caribe pinche'' ("mediocre piranha"), like the iridescent piranha ('' S. irritans''). This term gave rise to various trade names, like "Pingke piranha" and "Serrasalmus pinke" which is not a proper scientific name. Adult ''S. elongatus'' are found in deep, white water and juveniles are in usually shallow black waters of lagoons.

In the aquarium

''Serrasalmus elongatus'' are notorious fin biters and should be kept in their own tank. They are illegal to keep in Alabama and many other states. Serrasalmidae Piranhas Fish described in 1858 {{Characiformes-stub