SERRASALMIDAE
GEOGRAPHICAL FORMS S. rhombeus COMPLEX
Photography by George Fear, Shark Aquarium unless otherwise noted.
FROM FRANK MAGALLANES - May 22, 2007 (rev. December 30, 2011)
One of the many questions I receive about Serrasalmus rhombeus is...What kind is it? An ichthyologist would immediately look at the hobbyist with an incredulous look, probably followed with an answer/question that would go with something like this? What do you mean? What kind is it?
So what is the real answer? The "true" Serrasalmus rhombeus is found only in Guiana. The rest from other countries are all Serrasalmus rhombeus for the following systemic reasons,
They all possess a distinctive red eye when full grown adult.
They all have nearly the same number of skeletal bones within its geographical range and lastly, there has been nothing yet via DnA that has proven them to be anything else other than Serrasalmus rhombeus.
While it is true that some look different based on the small size to sub-adult, once they reach full maturity they are indeed difficult to tell apart other than some minor, nearly obscure features to the trained eye. But that alone will not hold up to the fish being from a particular country as these fish are variable depending on the water.
Use the photos below cautiously. The species photographs shown here are not to be considered scientific representations, unless noted. They are specimens collected and photographed by George Fear in the area of collection. Some of the species were collected by other people and so credited.
BOLIVIA
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Pando, Bolivia |
Beni Province |
BRAZIL NORTHERN
Both are the same fish, in the water and outside. Notice the difference
in
color. The fish outside the water looks olive green, whereas in the
photo tank it looks more silvery. These fish have a beautiful humeral
torquoise band that did not show well in the pictures -P. Petry
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BRAZIL - RIO ARAGUAIA
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From Belem probably from Rio Araguaia resembles S. gibbus. |
Rio Araguaia Adult |
Rio Araguaia juvenile |
Rio Araguaia, sub adult |
Upper Rio Araguaia collected from a pond |
Rio Araguaia Adult |
BRAZIL - RIO XINGU
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Altimira, Rio Xingu |
BRAZIL - RIO IRIRI
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Marbled S. rhombeus Rio Iriri |
Rio Iriri |
Darker Adult Rio Iriri |
COLUMBIA
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GUYANA
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PERU - RIO ITAYA
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High Backed Diamond Peru, Amazon Tributary, Rio Itaya |
High Backed Diamond Peru, Amazon Tributary, Rio Itaya |
PERU - RIO NANAY
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Jet Black High Back Rio Nanay, Iquitos, Peru |
Jet Black High Back Rio Nanay, Iquitos, Peru |
Jet Black High Back Rio Nanay, Iquitos, Peru |
Jet Black High Back Rio Nanay, Iquitos, Peru |
Rio Nanay, Iquitos, Peru |
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Photo by D. M. Schleser, Natures Images Unknown Locality |
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PERU - RIO OROSO
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Photo by D. M. Schleser, Natures Images |
VENEZUELA
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Captured in Laguna del Pao en Cojedes Venezuela |
Rio Guárico, Photo by Daniel Caballero |
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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.
