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PALOMETA PIRANHA

Pygocentrus palometa, nob.

Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes 1850

 

THE CITATION

 

Pygocentrus palometa (Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes 1850) but as a nomen dubium (= dubious name). No types known.

 

Le Pygocentre Palometa

 

Le Palometa du Rio Apure

a le corps large, comprimé latéralement; le dosarqué; la bouche extrêmement petite; les yeux très - grands; la dorsale, en forme de faux, opposée à ventrale; les pectorales et les ventrales très - petites; la queue forchue; le ventre transchant, dentelé ete scie. Après cette dentelure, étendue jusqu'aux deus tiers du corps, commence une longue nageoire anale. Les dents très - aiguës et tranchantes dans les deus mâchoires. Les éscailles petites et argentées; pas de tache.

 

 

TRANSLATION (APPROXIMATE)

Palometa of Rio Apure, the broad body,  is laterally compressed dorsally; the extremely small mouth; eyes very - the dorsal incredibly  large; opposed to ventral; the pectoral ones and ventral very the - small ones; the tail forked; the serrated belly, notched like a saw. After this serration, wide just with the third point of the body, a long anal fin starts. Teeth very - acute and sharp in the both jaws. Scales are small and silver plated.; No humeral spot.

 

FROM FRANK MAGALLANES - 18 May 2007

 

The species was described by Valenciennes, but no types were found by Dr. William L. Fink  or Dr. Antonio Machado-Allison.  The only reference is the paper. The few photos I have seen purported to be P. palometa are actually those of Pygocentrus nattereri. A species not even found in this fishes range. In my opinion might be pacu or Pristobrycon.

 

Palometa is a Spanish name applied in Venezuela, since the colony to fishes related to piranhas but in the genera Myleus, Mylossoma and Metynnis. Caribes,  Guacaritos and pinches are applied to true piranhas included in the genera Serrasalmus, Pristobrycon and Pygocentrus. So the validity of that species is questionable.

 

DISTRIBUTION

 

Orinoco river basin, Venezuela.

 

ADVISOR

 

Dr. Antonio Machado-Allison, Universidad Central de Venezuela

 

REFERENCES

 

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