Fauna
Species

Redeye Piranha

Serrasalmus rhombeus

Also known as Black Piranha, White Piranha, Spotted Piranha, Yellow Piranha

Redeye piranhas patrol deep river channels and flooded forest margins as primarily solitary ambush hunters. Equipped with massive jaw adductor muscles and razor-sharp interlocking teeth, these fish exert disproportionately powerful bite forces capable of shearing through bone. Juveniles often nip the fins and scales of other fishes before shifting toward larger vertebrate prey and carrion as mature adults.

PredatoryFreshwaterAmazonian
Redeye Piranha reference
(c) Diogo Luiz, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Diogo Luiz · cc-by
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyFish, Fish Fins, Aquatic Crustaceans
Predators
  • Black Caiman
  • Giant River Otter
  • Amazon River Dolphin
ThreatsHydroelectric dam development, mining runoff, and habitat fragmentation
HabitatsTropical rivers, floodplains, and forested creek channels
Life span15–25 years
Classification
  1. FamilySerrasalmidae
  2. SpeciesSerrasalmus rhombeus
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Possesses razor-sharp teeth and powerful jaws; never handle live specimens with bare hands.
Why it is dangerous
Massive jaw muscles and interlocking triangular teeth can easily sever digits and cause severe lacerations.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Recognizable by a deep rhomboid silhouette, slate to charcoal coloration, and bright crimson irises.
What to do
Keep hands clear of the mouth entirely, relying on landing nets and thick gloves to secure fish.
Responsible observation
  • Handling Caution: Always use long-handled pliers to extract fishing hooks and keep fingers away from the jaws.
  • Underwater Observation: Look for solitary adults resting motionless near submerged roots and shaded fallen timber.
Related species
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