Etymology;
Greek, kata = down + Greek, prion = saw
mento, is Greek forchin,
referring to the distinctive protuberance created by the curve in its
banana-shaped, elongate lower jaw
From Frank Magallanes
Catoprion mento is
monotypic and not a true piranha by ichthyologic standards. The epithet piranha
is applied loosely to this species by natives because of its close appearance to
the piranhas. The dietary requirements is mostly scales, however, OPEFE Wimpel
piranha have been fed small guppies, cut shrimp (which they relish) and dead
flies. The Wimpel teeth are everted, tubercle and arranged in a double row
similar to pacus. The species is not very large, growing to about 4 ½ inches
SL. All Wimpel Piranhas found in pet stores are wild caught imports that have
not been bred in captivity. The range of C. mento is very limited, most
come from Motto Grosso regions where it inhabits small streams.
Presently,
there is evidence to suggest C. mento and P. denticulata
are related more genetically than any other member of the piranha
genera (Orti, 2000 et al).
The
common name Wimpel derives from German word for the banner-like filaments
that extend out from the dorsal fin. According to Bleher, Harald Schultz gave
the fish that name when he discovered it. H.R. Axelrod was with him and
Axelrod misspelled the word when using it in his books as wimple. While
the correct spelling of the name might not catch on, at least OPEFE readers can
at least get the correction as it was originally intended by the describer (H.
Schultz). The red blemish (cajete roja) is not always present on specimens nor
is the extended filament. This type of ontogeny created a problem with an
authority erroneously naming two other additional species as C. geryi and
C. paraquayensis. The two species were erected as separate species from C. mento
because of some vague descriptions pertaining to fin length, double extension of
rays (similar to freshwater cichlid angelfishes genus Pterophyllum) and
the lack of red-blemish on the opercle. I examined over 100 specimens of
Catoprion collected from a wholesale dealer and retail outlets and found
that during ontogeny those features are variable among different sized C.
mento. The filament may or may not be present in juveniles as small as 2 cm
SL. Those lacking the red blemish would later develop it during maturity. One
other factor to take into consideration is the flowing filament often found on
those called C. mento. My observation's based on 24 captive specimens
found that the filament if broken off, does not develop in later stages of
growth. Those that had the filament intact kept it throughout growth even
extending past the caudal fin.
Original
colored plate image of C. mento OPEFE Journal of Piranhas and
Predatory Fishes, Vol. 1, 1994. Drawing by Frank Magallanes showing sexual
dimorphism of male
IN
THE AQUARIUM
WIMPEL
PIRANHA - Scale-eater; May be kept in a small group when juvenile. Adults
should be kept as individual species in home aquarium. Their other requirements
includes soft, acid water; pH 5.8 to 6.2 and water temperature of 76F to 78F. A
small aquarium of at least 20 gallons for one specimen should be sufficient.
They require heavy planting, and soft flow of water.
Wimpel
Piranha feeding in the wild
SEXUAL
DIMORPHISM - EXAMINATION AND DISCUSSION
The
species is sexually dimorphic (Magallanes, 1989) with the male wimpel piranha
having a convex anal fin (SEE PHOTO above). Specimen examined being 7 cm SL,
anal fin 2.5 cm (long) 34 rays. The count begins with the letter "I"
for the first spine, then follows the count (1-14) lobed. The count continues
with 15 (15 =1) to the end of the anal fin (22), for a total of 36 anal fin
rays. This count was made from a photograph of C. mento found on pg. 46,
Piranhas Fact and Fiction (J. R. Quinn).
While
the above has not been authenticated, two examples (both male and female) were
sent to Dr. W. L. Fink for examination (in 1993). The original type example of
Catoprion mento is kept at the Paris Museum. The smallest juvenile wimpel
piranha exhibit the lobed anal fin, but since it has no coloration (hyaline) one
must observe closely to see the lobe. During the 3 year research of this
species, it was found that only the smallest specimens of the wimpel piranha may
be kept together, however as maturity develops, I found that the female wimples
tending to make repeated attacks on the males, resulting in mortalities. Because
of a winter power outage in 1997, many of our fishes were killed due to lack of
heat and oxygenation, including the Wimpel piranhas. I hope to gather additional
specimens at some later date to continue the research. Perhaps at that time the
question maybe answered as to why the females are more aggressive than the
males. The behavior observed here is that the females act like the arachnid,
black widow spider.
I
provided several C. mento specimens to Oregon State University
(Neo-tropical Division) for DNA testing. The species was found to be a close
sister to genus Pygocentrus.
FEEDING
Because
the wimpel piranha has specialized teeth, it is a species that feeds principally
on scales of other fishes including their own kind. According to Jeff Janovich
who has researched this behavior in laboratory tests at the Department of
Biology, Sweet Briar College, Sweet Briar, VA 24595. To read the research on
this species, visit this link. Or read the abstract below.
ABSTRACT
The wimple piranha, Catoprion mento, has a narrow-range natural diet with
fish scales comprising an important proportion of its total food intake. Scales
are eaten throughout most of ontogeny and adults feed almost exclusively on this
food source. Catoprion exhibits a novel prey capture behavior when
removing scales for ingestion. Scale feeding strikes involve a high-speed,
open-mouth, ramming attack where the prey is bitten to remove scales and the
force of the collision knocks scales free. Unique kinematic parameters of
scale-feeding strikes include a mean gape angle of nearly 120 degrees and a
;plateau' stage of prolonged maximum displacement for cranial elevation and
opercular expansion. When feeding on live fish or loose scales, Catoprion performs
a typical ram/suction attack that is modulated according to the elusiveness of
the prey. Captures of elusive fish elicit faster strikes with greater
displacement of cranial elements than do attacks on loose scales sinking in the
water column. Despite its specialized diet and suite of anatomical characters,
functional versatility in feeding behavior has not been reduced in Catoprion,
as predicted by many analogous studies in functional morphology. On the
contrary, the behavioral repertoire of Catoprion has been broadened by
the addition of a novel behavior for scale feeding.
In my
past conversations with Jeff, we have both marveled at this species specialized
nature. It is my hope that genus Pygocentrus is also examined in terms of
bite strength.
SYNONYMS
macropterus,
Mylesinus Ulrey [A. B.] 1894:612 [American Naturalist v. 28 (no. 331);
Brazil. Holotype (unique): CU 3267 (whereabouts unknown). Species was
originally described on a single specimen as above, later described as new
based on two specimens in Ulrey 1895:296. •Synonym of Catoprion mento
(Cuvier 1819) -- (Jégu in Reis et al. 2003:183). Current status:
Synonym of Catoprion mento (Cuvier 1819). Serrasalmidae.
mento,
Serrasalmus Cuvier [G.] 1819:369, Pl. 28 (fig. 3) [Mémoires du Muséum
National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris (N. S.) (Série A) Zoologie v. 5; Brazil.
Holotype (unique): MNHN A-9869 (poor condition). Type catalog: Bertin
1948:28-29. •Valid as Catoprion mento (Cuvier 1819) -- (Géry
1972:207, Taphorn 1992:149, Britski et al. 1999:58, Jégu in Reis et al.
2003:183). Current status: Valid as Catoprion mento (Cuvier
1819). Serrasalmidae.
DISTRIBUTION
Amazon,
Orinoco, Essequibo and upper Paraguay River basins: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia,
Guyana and Venezuela; Drainage:Amazon, Paraguay, Vichada, Meta,
Curua-Una, Negro, Trombetas, Caures, Pitinga, Uatuma, Tapajos, Jau, Essequibo,
Mamore-Madiera, Apure/Orinoco, Moruka River, Gurico, Capanaparo, Ocamo, Mavaca,
Guariquito, Llanos E, Branco, Caura, Rio Meta, Upper Orinoco River, Orinoco
river.
Contributors
and Advisors:
Dr.
William L. Fink
Dr.
Antonio Machado-Allison
REFERENCES
Magallanes,
F. Sexual Dimorphism of the wimple piranha Catoprion mento
(unpublished-1989). First appeared in OPEFE Journal of Piranhas and Predatory
Fishes, Vol. 1, 1994, out of print. Copies may still be obtained via the
Aquatic Book Shop depending on availability.
Cuvier,
G. . 1819 Memoires du Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Sur les poissons
du sous-genre «Hydrocyn, sur deux nouvelles espèces de «Chalceus», sur
trois nouvelles espèces de «Serrasalmes», et sur l'«Argentina glossodonta»
de Forskahl, quiest l'«Albula gonorhynchus» de Bloch. Mem. Mus. Natl. Hist.
Nat.. 5:351-379.
Ferreira,
E.J.G., J.A.S. Zuanon and G.M. dos Santos, 1998. Peixes comerciais do médio
Amazonas.. Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais
Renováveis. 211p.
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.
Taphorn,
D. C. 1992 The characiform fishes of the Apure River
drainage, Venezuela. Biollania Edición Especial - No. 4. Monografias
Cientificas del Museo de Ciencias Naturales, UNELLEZ -- Guanara, estado
Portuguesa, Venezuela. 1-537.
Bertin,
L. 1948 Catalogue des types de poissons du Muséum national
d'Histoire Naturelle. 3e partie. Ostariophysaires (Characiniformes,
Gymnotiformes). Cat. Fish Types, Paris 3e partie: 1-49.
Britski,
H. A., K. Z. de S. de Silimon and B. S. Lopes 1999 Peixes do
Pantanal. Manual de identificaçao. Embrapa. Serviçao de Produçal -SPI,
Brasía, DF. Peixes Pantanal: 1-184.
NAKAYAMA,
C.M.; PORTO, J.I.R. & FELDBERG, E. (1998) Caracterização cromossômica
de Catoprion mento (Characiformes, Serrasalmidae) do rio Uatumã,
Manaus-AM. Resumos do VI Simpósio de Citogenética Evolutiva e Aplicada de
Peixes Neotropicais: A2.
BLEHER,
Heiko, Search for the Wimple Piranha, (1993), Tropical Fish Hobbyist, pg.9-36.
JANOVETZ,
Jeff, Functional morphology of feeding in the scale-eating specialist Catoprion
mento. First published online December 2, 2005 Journal of Experimental
Biology 208, 4757-4768 (2005) Published by The
Company of Biologists 2005 doi: 10.1242/jeb.01938.
Freeman,
B., Nico, L. G., Ostentoski, M. Jelks, H. J. & Collins, T. M. 2007.
Molecular systemics of Serrasalmidae: Deciphering the identities of piranha
speceis and unraveling their evoluntionary histories. Zootaxa 1484: 1 -38.
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