Pygocentrus piraya

Pygocentrus piraya
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Characiformes
Family: Serrasalmidae
Genus: Pygocentrus
Species:
P. piraya
Binomial name
Pygocentrus piraya
(Cuvier, 1819)
Synonyms
  • Serrasalmus piraya Cuvier, 1819
  • Serrasalmo piranha Spix & Agassiz, 1829
  • Serrasalmo ferox Swainson, 1838

Pygocentrus piraya, often called the piraya piranha or San Francisco piranha, and sometimes sold as the man-eating piranha, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Serrasalmidae, which includes the pacus, piranhas and related fishes. This fish is found in the São Francisco River basin in Brazil.