![]() ![]() Dentition and tooth morphology have long been used to classify serrasalmid species 15, 16. Carnivorous piranhas typically have jaws lined with a single row of 6–7 serrated, multi-cusped, triangular, blade-like teeth. Tooth shape and dentition patterns in Serrasalmidae demonstrate a strong functional relationship to diet 11, 12, 13. Within the piranha-clade, feeding ecology varies from the typical flesh and fin eating forms of Serrasalmus and Pygocentrus spp., to the highly specialized lepidophagous (i.e. Recent molecular evidence indicates there are three major subclades of the Serrasalmidae: 1) the carnivorous piranha-clade, 2) the omnivorous Myleus-clade and 3) the herbivorous pacu-clade 14. Even at their small body sizes, diet studies indicate that piranhas will attack and bite chunks out of prey many times larger than themselves 11, 12, 13. While anecdotes of piranha-infested waters skeletonizing hapless victims are generally hyperbole, the effectiveness of their bite is not. Among bony fishes, piranhas (Serrasalmidae) represent an ideal group of predatory vertebrates in which to investigate the evolution of extreme biting capabilities because of their aggressive nature, relatively small size and accessible populations. In-vivo experiments in the field to elicit and record ecologically realistic biting behaviors for predatory species are rare, dangerous and difficult to perform 10. However, few theoretical studies have validated their models with empirical measurements from living taxa 7, 8, 9. As a result of their fundamental importance in expanding predatory niches and promoting the success of vertebrates, jaws and bite forces in living and extinct species have been repeatedly modeled through lever and linkage mechanics, bite simulations and 3-D finite element analyses (FEA) 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. "But he isn't so little anymore."Įlmer Verbocy said he plans to bury the fish in his back yard, as he did with the one he caught in 1995.Ī neighbor, Marijo Rogers, visited the Verbocys in the afternoon to have her picture taken next to the fish.The evolution of gnathostome jaws, along with bite forces that can capture and masticate active prey is a key functional innovation underlying the diversification of early Devonian vertebrates 1. "I told my husband, "It looks like our little friend is back,' ![]() She and her husband had seen the fish numerous times. When she did so Monday, she noticed the large fish lurking under the carp. Verbocy's wife, Margaret, 71, feeds bread to the carp in Lake Renee every day. But when pacus outgrow their aquariums, they are sometimes dumped in Florida's lakes, where they can grow to up to 40 pounds. The pacu is often bred as an aquarium fish. Verbocy said the fish looks like the 12-pounder he caught in May 1995 _ and game and fish officials said that one was a piranha.Ĭabbage, however, said it is far more likely that the fish is a piranha look-alike called the pacu, a vegetarian cousin of the piranha that also is not native to Florida. "I bet he's been eating all the little fish and just bloating himself. ![]() "I think this big fellow has been living pretty high on the hog," Verbocy said. The fish was so heavy it bent the net's long metal shaft as he lifted it. Verbocy, 78, caught the fish with a net on Monday in small Lake Renee, behind his house on Plum Tree Road. ![]()
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