''Serrasalmus'' is a genus of

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, ...

s. They are collectively known as pirambebas; the "typical" piranhas like the piraya piranha are nowadays placed in ''

Pygocentrus ''Pygocentrus'' is a genus of the piranha family Serrasalmidae. All species are native to tropical and subtropical South America. All the species are predatory, scavengers and may form large schools. The famous red-bellied piranha, ''Pygocentrus ...

''. Like all piranhas, ''Serrasalmus'' are native to South America. These fish are predatory, have sharp teeth and generally have a rhomboid shape. In some, the shape is more

ovoid An oval () is a closed curve in a plane which resembles the outline of an egg. The term is not very specific, but in some areas (projective geometry, technical drawing, etc.) it is given a more precise definition, which may include either one or ...

, particularly in old specimens. Some ''Serrasalmus'' species can exceed (''S. manueli'' and ''S. rhombeus'', according to OPEFE), placing them among the largest

Serrasalmidae The Serrasalmidae (serrasalmids) are a family of characiform fishes, recently elevated to family status. It includes more than 90 species. The name means "serrated salmon family", which refers to the serrated keel running along the belly of these ...

Species

There are at least 31 recognized species in this genus: * '' Serrasalmus altispinis'' Merckx, Jégu & dos Santos, 2000 * '' Serrasalmus altuvei'' Ramírez, 1965 (''caribe pinche'') * '' Serrasalmus auriventris'' (

Burmeister Burmeister is a surname of German origin. In zoology "Burmeister" refers to: * Ernst-Gerhard Burmeister, German entomologist * Hermann Burmeister (1807–1892), German zoologist also in botany "Burmeist." Other people named Burmeister include: * ...

, 1861) * '' Serrasalmus brandtii'' Lütken, 1875 (white piranha) * '' Serrasalmus compressus'' Jégu, Leão & dos Santos, 1991 * '' Serrasalmus eigenmanni''

Norman Norman or Normans may refer to: Ethnic and cultural identity * The Normans, a people partly descended from Norse Vikings who settled in the territory of Normandy in France in the 10th and 11th centuries ** People or things connected with the Norm ...

, 1929 * '' Serrasalmus elongatus'' Kner, 1858 (slender piranha, ''caribe pinche'') * '' Serrasalmus emarginatus'' (

Jardine Jardine is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Al Jardine (born 1942), member of the Beach Boys * Alexander Jardine (Medal of Honor) (1874–1949), American Medal of Honor recipient * Antonio Jardine (born 1988), NCAA college bas ...

, 1841) * '' Serrasalmus geryi'' Jégu & dos Santos, 1988 (violet line piranha) * '' Serrasalmus gibbus'' Castelnau, 1855 * '' Serrasalmus gouldingi'' W. L. Fink & Machado-Allison, 1992 (blue tiger piranha) * '' Serrasalmus hastatus'' W. L. Fink & Machado-Allison, 2001 * '' Serrasalmus hollandi'' ( C. H. Eigenmann, 1915) * ''

Serrasalmus humeralis ''Serrasalmus'' is a genus of piranhas. They are collectively known as pirambebas; the "typical" piranhas like the piraya piranha are nowadays placed in ''Pygocentrus''. Like all piranhas, ''Serrasalmus'' are native to South America. These fish ...

'' Valenciennes, 1850 (pirambeba) * ''

Serrasalmus irritans ''Serrasalmus'' is a genus of piranhas. They are collectively known as pirambebas; the "typical" piranhas like the piraya piranha are nowadays placed in ''Pygocentrus''. Like all piranhas, ''Serrasalmus'' are native to South America. These fish ...

'' ( W. K. H. Peters, 1877) (Iridescent piranha，''"caribe pinche"'') * ''

Serrasalmus maculatus ''Serrasalmus'' is a genus of piranhas. They are collectively known as pirambebas; the "typical" piranhas like the piraya piranha are nowadays placed in ''Pygocentrus''. Like all piranhas, ''Serrasalmus'' are native to South America. These fish ...

'' Kner, 1858 (spotted piranha) * '' Serrasalmus manueli'' ( Fernández-Yépez & Ramírez, 1967) (green tiger piranha, ''caribe parguasero'') * ''

Serrasalmus marginatus ''Serrasalmus'' is a genus of piranhas. They are collectively known as pirambebas; the "typical" piranhas like the piraya piranha are nowadays placed in ''Pygocentrus''. Like all piranhas, ''Serrasalmus'' are native to South America. These fish ...

'' Valenciennes, 1837 * '' Serrasalmus medinai'' Ramírez, 1965 (red-throated piranha) * '' Serrasalmus nalseni'' Fernández-Yépez, 1969 (''caribe pintado'') * '' Serrasalmus neveriensis'' Machado-Allison, W. L. Fink, López Rojas & Rodenas, 1993 * ''

Serrasalmus nigricans ''Serrasalmus'' is a genus of piranhas. They are collectively known as pirambebas; the "typical" piranhas like the piraya piranha are nowadays placed in ''Pygocentrus''. Like all piranhas, ''Serrasalmus'' are native to South America. These fish ...

'' (

Spix Johann Baptist Ritter von Spix (9 February 1781 – 13 March 1826) was a German biologist. From his expedition to Brazil, he brought to Germany a large variety of specimens of plants, insects, mammals, birds, amphibians and fish. They constitute ...

Agassiz Jean Louis Rodolphe Agassiz ( ; ) FRS (For) FRSE (May 28, 1807 – December 14, 1873) was a Swiss-born American biologist and geologist who is recognized as a scholar of Earth's natural history. Spending his early life in Switzerland, he rec ...

, 1829) * '' Serrasalmus nigricauda'' (

, 1861) * '' Serrasalmus odyssei'' Hubert & Renno, 2010 * ''

Serrasalmus rhombeus The redeye piranha (''Serrasalmus rhombeus''), also known as the black piranha, white piranha, spotted piranha or yellow piranha, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a piranha from the family Serrasalmidae. It is found in northern South Am ...

'' ( Linnaeus, 1766) (redeye piranha, ''caribe amarillo'') * '' Serrasalmus sanchezi'' Géry, 1964 (sharp-snouted piranha) * '' Serrasalmus scotopterus'' (

, 1841) * ''

Serrasalmus serrulatus ''Serrasalmus'' is a genus of piranhas. They are collectively known as pirambebas; the "typical" piranhas like the piraya piranha are nowadays placed in ''Pygocentrus''. Like all piranhas, ''Serrasalmus'' are native to South America. These fish ...

'' ( Valenciennes, 1850) (''caribe cortador'') * ''

Serrasalmus spilopleura ''Serrasalmus'' is a genus of piranhas. They are collectively known as pirambebas; the "typical" piranhas like the piraya piranha are nowadays placed in ''Pygocentrus''. Like all piranhas, ''Serrasalmus'' are native to South America. These fish ...

'' Kner, 1858 (speckled piranha) * ''

Serrasalmus stagnatilis ''Serrasalmus'' is a genus of piranhas. They are collectively known as pirambebas; the "typical" piranhas like the piraya piranha are nowadays placed in ''Pygocentrus''. Like all piranhas, ''Serrasalmus'' are native to South America. These fish ...

'' (

, 1841) * ''

Serrasalmus undulatus ''Serrasalmus'' is a genus of piranhas. They are collectively known as pirambebas; the "typical" piranhas like the piraya piranha are nowadays placed in ''Pygocentrus''. Like all piranhas, ''Serrasalmus'' are native to South America. These fish ...

'' (

, 1841)

References

* * * OPEFE Serrasalmidae Piranhas Fish of South America {{Characiformes-stub