Serrasalmus maculatus

Serrasalmidae

Serrasalmus maculatus

Kner 1858

Etymology: maculatus: Refers to large spots on the side

From Frank Magallanes

The classification of this species as S. maculatus remains open for scientific discussion. Evidently mistakes were made by Jegu et al., when he misidentified S. eigenmanni for S. spilopleura in his rehabilitation work of Jegu 2001 and Hubert 2007/2010 published the error Jegu made in identification. For the present time the species name is accepted until reviewed by future Systematician. Hobbyists and dealers must remain flexible should this name be revised or reassigned to S. spilopleura as a synonym.

Recently in a discussion with M. Jegu, he identified several species for me as S. maculatus. Included in this identification was one called a Ruby Red Spilo. This one is formally identified as S. maculatus and not S. spilopleura.

Norman (1929) was not able to identify S. maculatus (Kner 1868) from the Rio Guapore specimen. But believes it to be S. spilopleura. Norman maintained that the broad dark (brown or black) margin midway on the caudal fin became broader with age and less intense. In several specimens Norman examined from the Amazon, the band is much more broader extends out almost to of the caudal fin. Where the hinder part of the had been worn away, the fish appears to have a marginal rather submarginal dark band.Occurs in ponds, generally in small groups of up to 20 individuals which appear to have a definite range within a pond or a creek. This does not mean the fish stay together for life, individuals leave and rejoin other groups that closely match their individualistic traits. This prevents the group from practicing natural selection and removing an undesirable member of their group. So caution is also suggested for the home aquarium if you keep several of these together.

Serrasalmus maculatus Kner [R.] 1858:166 [6] [Sitzungsberichte der Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften. Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Classe v. 32 (no. 22); Rio Guaporé, Mato Grosso, Brazil. Lectotype: NMW 17995. Paralectotypes: BMNH 1928.1.24.10 [ex NMW] (1); ?NMW 57058 (1), NMW 17996 (1). Appeared in more detail in Kner 1860:49 [41 in separate], Pl. 4 (fig. 10). Lectotype designated by Jégu & Santos 2001:129. •Valid as Serrasalmus maculatus Kner 1858 -- (Keith et al. 2000:14, Jégu & Santos 2001:119, Jégu in Reis et al. 2003:191, Mirande 2010:472, Koerber 2011:1). Current status: Valid as Serrasalmus maculatus Kner 1858.

The 3 fish shown above are S. maculatus.

DISTRIBUTION

Amazon and Paraguay-Paraná River basin: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay.

MAXIMUM SIZE - According to Fishbase.org (expect errors).

20.2 cm SL

CONTRIBUTORS/ADVISORS

Jégu, Michel

REFERENCES

Kner, R. 1858 Zur Familie der Characinen. Sitzungsber. Akad. Wiss. Wien v. 32 (no. 22): 163-168. [Abstract of Kner 1860].
Kner, R. 1860 Zur Familie der Characinen. III. Folge. Der Ichthyologischen Beiträge. Denkschr. Akad. Wiss. Wien v. 18: 9-62, Pls. 1-8. [Also as a separate, pp. 1-54, with dual pagination. Some taxa appeared first in Kner 1858.
Jégu, M. and G. M. dos Santos 2001 Mise au point à propos de Serrasalmus spilopleura Kner, 1858 et réhabilitation de S. maculatus Kner, 1858 (Characidae: Serrasalminae). Cybium v. 25 (no. 2): 119-143. (1) Antenne IRD, Laboratoire d'Ichtyologie générale et appliquée, M.N.H.N., 43 rue Cuvier, 75231 Paris Cedex 05 France. (2) Laboratorio de Ictiologia, I.N.P.A., C.P.B.A., Cx P. 478, 69083-970 Manaus, A.M. Brézil.
Jégu, Michel., Dos Santos, Geraldo Mendes., Cybium 2001, 25(2): 119-143. Mise Au Point À Propos de Serrasalmus spilopleura Kner, 1858 et Réhabilitation de S. maculatus Kner, 1858
Sazima, I. and F. A. Machado, 1990 Underwater observations of piranhas in western Brazil. Environ. Biol. Fish. 28:17-31.
Sazima, I. and J.P. Pombal, Jr., 1988, Mutilação de nadadeiras em acarás, Geophagus brasiliensis, por piranhas, Serrasalmus spilopleura. Rev. Bras. Biol. 48(3):477-483. (See S. maculatus rehabilitation reference above).
Keith, P., P.-Y. Le Bail and P. Planquette 2000 Atlas des poissons d'eau douce de Guyane. Tome 2 - fascule I. Batrachoidiformes, Mugiliformes, Beloniformes, Cyprinodontiformes, Synbranchiformes, Perciformes, Pleuronectiformes, Tetraodontiformes. 1-286
Haddad-Jr., V. and I. Sazima, 2003 Piranha attacks on humans in southeast Brazil: epidemiology, clinics, and natural history, with description of a bite outbreak. Wild. Environ. Med. 14(4):249-254.
Sazima, I. and C. Zamprogno, 1985 Use of water hyacinths as shelter, foraging place, and transport by young piranhas, Serrasalmus spilopleura. Environ. Biol. Fish. 12(3):237-240.
Castro, R.M.C. & M.F. Arcifa, 1987. Communidades de peixes de reservatorios do sul do Brazil. Rev. Bras. Biol. 47(4): 493-500.
Thomas, S. M. & L. M. Bini. 1999. A expansao das macrofitas aquaticas e implicacoes para manejo de reservatorios: Um estudo na represa de Itaipu. In. R. Henry (ed.) Ecologia de Reservatorio: estrutura foncao e ascpectos sociais, FUNBIO/FAPESP. pp. 599.625.
Böhlke, E. B. 1984 Catalog of type specimens in the ichthyological collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. Spec. Publ. 14: i-viii + 1-246 Spec. Publ. 14: i-viii + 1-246.
Géry, J. 1972 (19 Dec.) Poissons characoïdes des Guyanes. I. Généralités. II. Famille des Serrasalmidae. Zool. Verh. (Leiden) No. 122: 1-250, Pls. 1-16.

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UPDATED: 11/14/2014