Pirapitinga

Theme area: Amazon

Scientific name: Piaractus brachypomus

Class:

, Fish

, Vertebrates

Continent:

, North America

, South America

, Central America and the Caribbean

Habitat: Rivers and lakes

Diet: Omnivorous

Weight: 20 - 25 kg

Size: 70 - 90 cm

Found in our Amazon zone, the pirapitinga are related to piranhas. They have incredibly strong teeth, which makes it easy for them to chomp into their main source of food, nuts and seeds. However, they also feed on fish and other animals.

The giant pacu is found mainly in the Amazon and Orinoco. You can easily compare the piripitinga with the piranha in our Amazon zone. While piranhas have very sharp teeth that are as sharp as razors, the pirapitinga has compact, angular teeth. Pirapitinga grow much larger in size than piranhas; they reach lengths of 80 to 90 cm and weigh about 20 kilograms.

Conservation status

Extinct

Extinct in the wild

Critically endangered

Endangered

Vulnerable

Near threatened

Least concern

Insufficient data

Not evaluated