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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,

 

  1. They all possess a distinctive red eye when full grown adult.

  2. 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

FISH

Pando, Bolivia

Photo property of Jeff Cardwell. Permission granted OPEFE use.

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

SRHOMBEUS. DO NOT USE OUTSIDE OF OPEFE.

 

 

BRAZIL - RIO ARAGUAIA

Photo property of Shark Aquarium. Permission given OPEFE use.

From Belem probably from Rio Araguaia resembles S. gibbus.

Photo property of Shark Aquarium. Permission given OPEFE use.

Rio Araguaia Adult

Photo property of Shark Aquarium. Permission given OPEFE use.

Rio Araguaia juvenile

Photo property of Shark Aquarium. Permission given OPEFE use.

Rio Araguaia, sub adult

Photo property of Shark Aquarium. Permission given OPEFE use.

Upper Rio Araguaia collected from a pond

Photo property of Shark Aquarium. Permission given OPEFE use.

Rio Araguaia Adult

 

BRAZIL - RIO XINGU

Photo by George Fear

Altimira, Rio Xingu

 

BRAZIL - RIO IRIRI

Photo property of Shark Aquarium. Permission given OPEFE use.

Marbled S. rhombeus  

Rio Iriri

Photo property of Shark Aquarium. Permission given OPEFE use.

Rio Iriri

Photo property of Shark Aquarium. Permission given OPEFE use.

Darker Adult 

Rio Iriri

 

COLUMBIA

Photo requires permission of photographer to use outside of OPEFE.

 

GUYANA

Copyright. Do not use outside of OPEFE without permission.

Copyright. Do not use outside of OPEFE without permission.

Copyright. Do not use outside of OPEFE without permission.

 

 

PERU - RIO ITAYA

Photo property of Shark Aquarium. Permission given OPEFE use.

High Backed Diamond Peru, Amazon Tributary, Rio Itaya

Photo property of Shark Aquarium. Permission given OPEFE use.

High Backed Diamond Peru, Amazon Tributary, Rio Itaya

 

PERU - RIO NANAY

Photo property of Shark Aquarium. Permission given OPEFE use.

Jet Black High Back 

Rio Nanay, Iquitos, Peru

Photo property of Shark Aquarium. Permission given OPEFE use.

Jet Black High Back 

Rio Nanay, Iquitos, Peru

Photo property of Shark Aquarium. Permission given OPEFE use.

Jet Black High Back 

Rio Nanay, Iquitos, Peru

Photo property of Shark Aquarium. Permission given OPEFE use.

Jet Black High Back 

Rio Nanay, Iquitos, Peru

Photo property of Shark Aquarium. Permission given OPEFE use.

Rio Nanay, Iquitos, Peru

 

 

Photo is owned by Natures Images, Inc. David M. Schleser. Permission granted OPEFE use.

Photo by D. M. Schleser,  Natures Images

Unknown Locality

 

 

 

PERU  - RIO OROSO 

Photo property of Natures Images, Inc. David M. Schleser. Permission given OPEFE use.

Photo by D. M. Schleser, Natures Images

 

 

VENEZUELA

Serrasalmus rhombeus, Venezuela. Photo Credit: Edouard Paiva OPEFE USE ONLY

Captured in Laguna del Pao en Cojedes Venezuela

Venezuela S. rhombeus Photo property of Daniel Caballero. Permission granted OPEFE use.

Rio Guárico, Photo by Daniel Caballero

 

 

 

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The OPEFE web site and its contents; is disclaimed for purposes of Zoological Nomenclature in accordance with the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, Fourth Edition, Article 8.3 and 8.4. No new names or nomenclature changes are available from statements at this web site.

 

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. 

 

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