Piranhas, David M. Schleser, Natures Image

David M. Schleser was trained as a dentist, a profession which he practiced for 19 years. In 1982 he changed careers to aquatic biology, and later served for over five years as the Curator/Aquatic Biologist for the Dallas Aquarium, Dallas, Texas. He recently resigned this position to work full time for Nature's Images, Inc., a natural history photography and writing company which he helped establish. Since 1988, he has traveled regularly to the rain forests of Costa Rica, and the Amazon regions of Peru and Brazil, for purposes of research and photography. He frequently serves as the tour leader for Amazon River ecological and tropical study expeditions. David Schleser photographs and writings have appeared in many scientific and popular publications. He is also a Tetra speaker and presents many lectures on aquatic subjects to aquarium societies throughout the United States and Canada. His major ichthyologic interests are South American characins, the Centrachids of North America and desert fishes. [Taken from Piranhas, A Complete Pet Owner's Manual, Barron's Educational Services, Inc., Hauppauge, NY 11788].

It is my personal opinion that Piranhas, A Complete Pet Owner's Manual is the best amateur piranha book published in the last 40 years. I highly endorse it to anyone interested in learning about piranhas as home pets.

The following slides were donated by David Schleser to OPEFE for inclusion to its web pages on piranhas. Both David and I appeared in the National Geographic Explorer special "Urban Piranhas" and it is a privilege to be able to share these images with the world-wide web audience.

Rio Napo, Loreto, Peru 3.25 TL

Rio Orosa, (1997)

Rio Orosa - July 1997

S. eigenmanni or humeralis, Rio Negro near Barcelos, Oct 1991

Serrasalmus rhombeus

Rio Nanay, Loreto, Peru. 3.25 TL

This caught specimen is a bit controversial. This fish was captured in an area where it is not found at all. Schleser wrote this on the back of the slide, "P. striolatus, Rio Nanay, (October 1988)."

The OPEFE web site and its contents; is disclaimed for purposes of Zoological Nomenclature in accordance with the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, Fourth Edition, Article 8.3 and 8.4. No new names or nomenclature changes are available from statements at this web site.

Copyright© 1994-2012 Oregon Piranha Exotic Fish Exhibit (The OPEFE fish exhibit is permanently CLOSED as of 2000) Sutherlin, Oregon. Information posted on this web site is archival data on fish scientific classifications and other information. DISCLAIMER: The copyrighted material may not be used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship or research. Cited information requires credit and this link www.opefe.com. All rights reserved. All images shown (unless otherwise noted) is property of OPEFE.