black spot piranha
Pygocentrus cariba
Freshwater piranha from Venezuela and Colombia, reaching 27.9 cm. It has very strong teeth and is sought after in recreational fishing.
Also called: piranha-caribe, caribe colorado, caribe pinche, capaburro, piraña, black spot piranha
- maximum
- 28 cm
- record/max.
- 0.6 kg
who is the black spot piranha
The piranha caribe is a freshwater serrasalmid of the family Serrasalmidae, reaching 27.9 cm and weighing up to 560 g. It occurs in the lowlands of the Orinoco basin, in Venezuela and Colombia, in tropical water. It lives mainly in the midwater and is a fish predator. It has powerful teeth, capable of causing serious bites. It is sought after in recreational fishing, which makes it a species of interest for rod anglers in the region.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the black spot piranha; in the meantime, see the similar species.
identification
Deep-bodied, silvery piranha with a dark spot behind the head that marks the species. The mouth has triangular, strong teeth, as in all piranhas. In the Orinoco basin it lives alongside the black piranha (Serrasalmus rhombeus), which is larger. It is a close relative of the red-bellied piranha (Pygocentrus nattereri), which lives in other basins, such as the Amazon and the Paraguay.
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
Orinoco basin and lowlands of Venezuela and Colombia, in tropical freshwater.
Habitat: Lowlands of the Orinoco basin, in Venezuela and Colombia, in the midwater.
rules for the black spot piranha
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
Has strong teeth that cause serious bites. Use pliers, a cloth or a glove to remove the hook, and never bring your hand near the mouth.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.0182, b = 3.12; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Pygocentrus cariba (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Pygocentrus caribaNames by country and language.
