Caudal fin-nipping by Serrasalmus maculatus (Characiformes: Serrasalmidae) in a small water reservoir: seasonal variation and prey selection

Silva, André T. da; Zina, Juliana; Ferreira, Fábio Cop; Gomiero, Leandro Muller; Goitein, Roberto

doi:10.1590/s1984-46702015000600004

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 14 publications

(5 reference statements)

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“…Piranhas (Serrasalmidae) feed on an anatomical potpourri of fish parts, ranging from scales and fin rays, chunks of flesh, and whole fishes (Northcote, Northcote, & Arcifa, ; Silva, Zina, Ferreira, Gomiero, & Goitein, ). These prey components are important at different ontogenetic stages; many juvenile piranhas (e.g., Pygocentrus , Serrasalmus , and Pygopristis ) are facultative ectoparasites of other fishes (pterygophages and lepidophages), and then switch to outright piscivory or carnivory as subadults (Sazima & Machado, ; Nico & Taphorn, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tooth and consequences: Heterodonty and dental replacement in piranhas and pacus (Serrasalmidae)

Kolmann

Cohen

Bemis³

et al. 2019

Evolution and Development

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Tooth replacement in piranhas is unusual: all teeth on one side of the head are lost as a unit, then replaced simultaneously. We used histology and microCT to examine tooth‐replacement modes across carnivorous piranhas and their herbivorous pacu cousins (Serrasalmidae) and then mapped replacement patterns onto a molecular phylogeny. Pacu teeth develop and are replaced in a manner like piranhas. For serrasalmids, unilateral tooth replacement is not an “all or nothing” phenomenon; we demonstrate that both sides of the jaws have developing tooth rows within them, albeit with one side more mineralized than the other. All serrasalmids (except one) share unilateral tooth replacement, so this is not an adaptation for carnivory. All serrasalmids have interlocking teeth; piranhas interdigitate lateral tooth cusps with adjacent teeth, forming a singular saw‐like blade, whereas lateral cusps in pacus clasp together. For serrasalmids to have an interlocking dentition, their teeth need to develop and erupt at the same time. We propose that interlocking mechanisms prevent tooth loss and ensure continued functionality of the feeding apparatus. Serrasalmid dentitions are ubiquitously heterodont, having incisiform and molariform dentitions reminiscent of mammals. Finally, we propose that simultaneous tooth replacement be considered as a synapomorphy for the family.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tooth and consequences: Heterodonty and dental replacement in piranhas and pacus (Serrasalmidae)

Kolmann

Cohen

Bemis³

et al. 2019

Evolution and Development

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“…These reports have now been dismissed as anecdotal and hyperbolic, while human injuries by piranhas are thought to stem from fish defending their nests during breeding season (Haddad and Sazima, ). However, piranhas do regularly “mutilate” other fishes as a feeding strategy, removing fins and chunks of flesh; and several piranha species engaging in mucus, fin, and scale‐feeding (Sazima, ; Sazima and Pombal Jr, ; da Silva et al, ). Piranhas themselves are not strangers to similar kinds of aggression, being territorial fishes with robust dentition (Sazima, ; Fig.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In serrasalmids, as with other characiform fishes, interspecific (confamilial) and intraspecific fin‐nipping and other aggressive interactions are common (Sazima, , ; da Silva et al, ). Aggression among fishes can generally be broken into three categories: predation, competition, and parasitism.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Structure and Function of the Armored Keel in Piranhas, Pacus, and their Allies

Kolmann

Urban

Summers

2018

The Anatomical Record

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The serrasalmids: piranhas, pacus, and their relatives, are ubiquitous Neotropical fishes with diverse diets, ecologies, and behaviors. Serrasalmids have a bony, serrated keel which lines the underbellies of these fishes, the structure for which the family is named. We examined the diversity and structure of the keel in piranhas and allies using micro-computed tomography scanning in over 30 species of serrasalmids, a third of the species richness for the family, and for 95 total characiform specimens. The keel is highly diverse across serrasalmids, with serrae shape dictating the overall form of the keel. Serrae shape varies considerably among different species and even within keels themselves. The keel morphology can be divided into distinct anterior and posterior regions, as separated by the pelvic fins. Compared to other characiform fishes, serrasalmid skeletons are frequently damaged. Gouging perforations and signs of healing (serrae fusion) are common on the keel. We propose the keel is a defensive structure based on the high incidence of injury (>50%) in our dataset. This is the highest incidence of damage ever recorded in the skeletons of bony fishes. The loss of the anterior keel region in rheophilic taxa suggests competing performance demands and selective pressures on this structure. Competition and aggression among conspecifics or confamilials is a frequently invoked phenomenon for explaining animal weaponry and armor in terrestrial vertebrates. The keel in serrasalmids and other instances of armor in fishes could be complementary study systems for examining competitive rivalry in vertebrates. Anat Rec, 303:30-43, 2020.

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Non-native white piranhas graze preferentially on caudal fins from large netted fishes

Andrade

Silva

Guedes

et al. 2019

Mar. Freshwater Res.

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In this study we assessed, for the first time, grazing by Serrasalmus brandtii outside its natural range. We observed higher grazing proportions in samples from sites where S. brandtii is the dominant species in relation to sites where it is recorded as present and sites where it is absent. S. brandtii grazed preferentially on caudal fins in relation to all other fins alone or combined. It also preferred to mutilate fins instead of flesh. Larger fish had a higher probability of being mutilated and had a higher number of mutilated fins than smaller fish, which is expected as large fish represent a larger resource to their consumers. S. brandtii avoided mutilating conspecifics and, as its abundance increased, so did the number of species being preferentially grazed.

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Caudal fin-nipping by Serrasalmus maculatus (Characiformes: Serrasalmidae) in a small water reservoir: seasonal variation and prey selection

Cited by 3 publications

References 14 publications

Tooth and consequences: Heterodonty and dental replacement in piranhas and pacus (Serrasalmidae)

Tooth and consequences: Heterodonty and dental replacement in piranhas and pacus (Serrasalmidae)

Structure and Function of the Armored Keel in Piranhas, Pacus, and their Allies

Non-native white piranhas graze preferentially on caudal fins from large netted fishes

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