Serrasalmo nigricans SPIX 1829

Messr. Jégu considers this species (Jégu in Reis et al. 2003) valid as Serrasalmus nigricans. There are no types known. There are some serious problems with this species based on Fink 1993.

In my opinion, hobbyist/collectors are cautioned against using this scientific name on their fish if it comes from the locality mentioned below. Photos seen in some published hobbyist books purported to be S. nigricans are those of Pygocentrus nattereri.

Pygocentrus nigricans, from "Equatorial Brazil," described by Agassiz (in Spix and Agassiz, 1829

Photo shopped to enhance color only

Example of what S. nigicans might have looked like according to the description. The plate image is not much different.

Pygocentrus nigricans, from "Equatorial Brazil," described by Agassiz (in Spix and Agassiz, 1829) as a Serrasalmo. This is indeed a Serrasalmus, the Amazonian form equivalent to Serrasalmus spilopleura in the south of Brazil, as the original plate (XXX) clearly shows. The name nigricans was used by Müller and Troschel (1845) in a new combination (their new genus Pygocentrus). The specimen they considered to be nigricans is actually P. nattereri and is held in the Berlin Museum (ZMB 3630).

Müller and Troschel gave no evidence that the specimen they examined was the type of Agassiz's nigricans, and the specimen has dorsal-and anal-fin counts slightly different from those reported by Agassiz. In addition to the evidence of its identity from the well-done figure, as noted above, the description of live color in nigricans accurately describes the breeding adult of the Amazonian Serrasalmus, mitigating against placement of this species in Pygocentrus. (Fink, 1993).

Additionally, the image of that specimen indicates placement as a Pygocentrus piraya (?) and as S. nigricans (?). VIEW.

3. SERRASAMIO NIGRICANS Spix Tab. xxx.Capite obtuso: mandibula maxime prominente;nucha llnca fcre recta cum caplte continua; dorso ante pinnam dorsalem subrecto; trunco ad hanc pinnam lalissimo,1 y^latiore quam caput longum cst;squamis multo minoribus quam in caeteris specicbus:spinis carinae abdominalis aculissimis,comprcssissimis,confertis, posterioribus majoribus magisque dislanlibus; spina acuta, anlrorsum rccta ante pinnam dorsalem a medio dorso circiler incipientcm;tuberculo bicuspide ante pinnam analem alliorem basi latc squamatam.Caput siipra latutn, obtusissimum, nucham versus compressum; in summo vertice sulcus longitudinalis angustissimus;mandibula maxime prominens, fere iit in Scrrasalmone Mentone Cuvieri. Nares utrinque duae rotundae, posteriores cuticula laxa scmiclaudendae,maximae, ante oculos sitae.Carina dorsalis ante pinnam dorsalem anteriorcm ut in S. Piranha alepidota , sed in hacce specie angustissima.Corpus compressissimum;carina abdominalis acuta; spinis aculis,conferlis, compressissimis,posterioribus majoribus magisque dislanlibus. Squamae omncs minulissimac, confertissimae, lineis curvis concentricis confertissimis et illac Irunci superioris paucis radiis postcrioribus nolatae. Canalis mucosus squamarum lineae lateralis vastus per totam squamarum longitudinem producitur et in margine postico foramine obUquo minimo aperitur. In linea laterali squamae 96. Ante pinnam dorsalem anteriorem spina acuta antrorsum vcrsa. Pinna ipsa radiis duobus anterioribus simplicibiis brevioribus, sequentibus in summo apice tantum fissis , scnsim longitudine decrescentibus. Pinna adiposa rotundata, apice subfimbriata. Pinna caudalis radiis internis muUifariam et profunde fissis, externis simplicibus sensim minoribus. Pinna analis radiis anterioribus simplicibus, tertio caeteris multo crassiore, sequentibus apice fissis,basi squamata angulo anteriore rotundato altior sed minus lata quam in caeteris speciebus. Pinnae ventrales parvae acuminatae, in mcdio abdomine scd parum posterius sitae. Pinnae pectoralcs subtriangulares acuminatae ultra ventrahum insertioncm productae, radiis anterioribus parum crassioribus sequentibus inde sensim gracilioribus. Totus piscis nigricanti - olivaceus et aureo-nitens; pinnae obscuriores. Pinnae pectorales radiis 16, ventrales 6, analis 3. 28, caudahs 7—8. 21. 7—8, dorsahs anterior 2. i3. In Museo Monacensi specimen pulcherrimum in spiritu vini servatur, longitudine Aj/i". Hahital in Brasiliac aeqiialorialis Jluciis , iiti reliquae spccies , voracissiinus , omnibus animalibus ar/uatilibus injestissimus , cdulis. Haec species Salmoni rhombeo propinquior quam idH «t characteribus datis sat specifice diflferens.

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