Pygocentrus
| Pygocentrus | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Characiformes |
| Family: | Serrasalmidae |
| Subfamily: | Serrasalminae |
| Genus: | Pygocentrus J. P. Müller & Troschel, 1844 |
| Type species | |
| Serrasalmus piraya G. Cuvier, 1819 | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Rooseveltiella Eigenmann, 1915 | |
Pygocentrus is a genus of the piranha family Serrasalmidae. All species are native to tropical and subtropical South America. All the species are predatory, scavengers and may form large schools. The famous red-bellied piranha, Pygocentrus nattereri, is one of four species in the genus.