Encyclopedia of Life · EOL (see source)
Serrasalmidae
Sign in to saveThe Serrasalmidae (serrasalmids) are a family of characiform fishes native to freshwater habitats of South America. They include more than 90 species. The name means "serrated salmon family", which refers to the serrated keel running along the belly of these fish. Fish classified as Serrasalmidae are also known by these common names: pacu, piranha, and silver dollar. These common names generally designate differing dental characteristics and feeding habits.
Species
FAMILY
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumChordata
- ClassTeleostei
- OrderCharaciformes
- FamilySerrasalmidae
Die Sägesalmler (Serrasalmidae) sind eine Familie der Salmlerartigen (Characiformes). Sie leben im tropischen Südamerika, mit Ausnahme des Gebietes westlich der Anden. Zu ihnen gehört mit dem Schwarzen Pacu (Colossoma macropomum) einer der größten Salmler.
via GBIF
Museum specimens
- Specimen records
- 59
- Family
- Serrasalmidae
- Collections
- NCSM, ANSP, INSTITUTO NACIONAL DE PESQUISAS DA AMAZÔNIA (INPA), UMMZ, MPEG, ROM
- Recorded in
- United States, Manapiare, Autana, Brasil, Suriname, Altamira, Porto De Moz, Anapu
~6 min read
Encyclopedic overview
8 sectionsContents
- Description
- Evolution
- Taxonomy
- Fossil record
- Distribution
- Ecology
- Relationship to humans
- References
The Serrasalmidae (serrasalmids) are a family of characiform fishes native to freshwater habitats of South America. They include more than 90 species. The name means "serrated salmon family", which refers to the serrated keel running along the belly of these fish. Fish classified as Serrasalmidae are also known by these common names: pacu, piranha, and silver dollar. These common names generally designate differing dental characteristics and feeding habits.
==Description== Serrasalmids are medium- to large-sized characiform bony fishes that reach about long, generally characterized by a deep, laterally compressed body with a series of midventral abdominal spines or scutes, and a long dorsal fin (over 16 rays). Most species also possess an anteriorly directed spine just before the dorsal fin extending from a supraneural bone; exceptions include members of the genera Colossoma, Piaractus, and Mylossoma.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Serrasalmidae” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.