''Pygocentrus palometa'' is a species of

piranha A piranha (, or ; ) is any of a number of freshwater fish species in the subfamily Serrasalminae, of the family Serrasalmidae, in the order Characiformes. These fish inhabit South American rivers, floodplains, lakes and reservoirs. Although ...

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

Venezuela Venezuela, officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many Federal Dependencies of Venezuela, islands and islets in the Caribbean Sea. It com ...

, where it is restricted to the Orinoco Basin. Although recognized by

FishBase FishBase is a global species database of fish species (specifically finfish). It is the largest and most extensively accessed online database on adult finfish on the web.

, the scientific name may be a

nomen dubium In binomial nomenclature, a ''nomen dubium'' (Latin for "doubtful name", plural ''nomina dubia'') is a scientific name that is of unknown or doubtful application. Zoology In case of a ''nomen dubium,'' it may be impossible to determine whether a ...

. "Palometa" is a general common name used in South America for many

serrasalmid The Serrasalmidae (serrasalmids) are a family of characiform fishes native to freshwater habitats of South America. They include more than 90 species. The name means "serrated salmon family", which refers to the serrated keel running along the ...

s, such as the black spot piranha,

red-bellied piranha The red-bellied piranha, also known as the red piranha (''Pygocentrus nattereri''), is a Type (biology), type of piranha native to South America, found in the Amazon basin, Amazon, Paraguay River, Paraguay, Paraná River, Paraná and Essequibo Ri ...

, redhook myleus, wimple piranha, ''

Metynnis ''Metynnis'' is a genus of serrasalmid fish from tropical and subtropical South America. They are herbivorous or omnivorous, and inhabit a wide range of freshwater habitats, ranging from rivers and streams (both fast- and slow-flowing), to floodp ...

'', ''

Mylossoma ''Mylossoma'' is a genus of serrasalmids from tropical and subtropical South America, including the basins of the Amazon, Orinoco, Lake Maracaibo and Paraguay- Paraná. These common fish are found both in main river sections and floodplains. They ...

'', '' Pygopristis denticulata'', ''

Pristobrycon striolatus ''Pristobrycon striolatus'' is a species of serrasalmid fish. Range and habitat ''Pristobrycon striolatus'' inhabits mainly black or acidic waters in tributaries in the Orinoco and Amazon River Basins. Description This small and beautiful ...

'' and ''

Serrasalmus ''Serrasalmus'' is a genus of piranhas. They are collectively known as pirambebas; the "typical" piranhas like the piraya piranha are nowadays placed in '' Pygocentrus''. Like all piranhas, ''Serrasalmus'' are native to South America. These fis ...

'', as well as the unrelated marine fish ''

Beryx ''Beryx'' is a genus of alfonsinos found in deep oceanic waters. Two of its member species, ''B. decadactylus'' and ''B. splendens'', are found across nearly the entire globe and are of some commercial importance. Species There are currently th ...

'', '' Brama'', '' Trachinotus goodei'' and ''

Taractichthys ''Taractichthys'' is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes from the family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship ...

''.Pescados y Mariscos:
Palometa o Japuta
''

Eroski Eroski is a Spanish supermarket chain headquartered in Elorrio, Basque Country (autonomous community), Basque Country. It is run as a worker-consumer hybrid co-operative within the Mondragón Corporation group, with nearly 1,000 outlets spread a ...

Foundation. Retrieved 9 August 2016.

References

Serrasalmidae Piranhas Freshwater fish of Venezuela Endemic fauna of Venezuela Fish described in 1850 Taxa named by Achille Valenciennes {{Characiformes-stub