Piaractus mesopotamicus

Piaractus mesopotamicus
Pacú
Pacú
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Characiformes
Family: Characidae
Subfamily: Serrasalminae
Genus: Piaractus
Species: P. mesopotamicus
Binomial name
Piaractus mesopotamicus
Holmberg, 1887
Synonyms

Myletes edulis
Myletes mesopotamicus
Colossoma mitrei
Colossoma canterai

Pacú (Piaractus mesopotamicus), pez chato ("flat fish"), mbiraí, or piraí, is a South American ray-finned fish that is endemic to the Paraguay-Paraná River basin, though it has been introduced by aquaculture activities in a wider area.

P. mesopotamicus is a robust fish, with ovoid shape, flattened laterally. Its colour is dark grey to silver, with a white belly and a yellow breast, and the laterals have small darker spots.

This fish is an omnivore. Young individuals usually feed on micro-crustaceans, but adults choose insects and plants, as well as nuts and seeds that fall from trees in flooded forests.

References