Characins: Characiformes - Physical Characteristics, Giant Tigerfish (hydrocynus Goliath): Species Accounts, Red-bellied Piranha (pygocentrus Nattereri): Species Accounts - GEOGRAPHIC RANGE, HABITAT, DIET, BEHAVIOR AND REPRODUCTION, CHARACINS AND PEOPLE,

Characins: Characiformes - Physical Characteristics

Characins: Characiformes - Giant Tigerfish (hydrocynus Goliath): Species Accounts

Physical characteristics: Giant tigerfish are the largest characins, reaching a length of 4 feet, 4 inches (1.3 meters) and a weight of 110 pounds (50 kilograms). The fully scaled body is pointed at the ends and has a high dorsal fin. The body is silvery, and the back is darker gray. The fins are often orange or red, and the fish may become brightly colored during the breeding season. The teeth ar…

Characins: Characiformes - Red-bellied Piranha (pygocentrus Nattereri): Species Accounts

Physical characteristics: Red-bellied piranhas have an average length of 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 centimeters) but can grow to 12 inches (30 centimeters). The belly, the throat, the pectoral (PECKter-uhl) fins, or the front pair, the pelvic fins, or the rear pair, and the anal fins are bright red. The sides are often pale brown to slightly olive, and the back is bluish gray to brownish. The powerfu…

Characins: Characiformes - River Hatchetfish (gasteropelecus Sternicla): Species Accounts

Physical characteristics: River hatchetfish are about 1 to 2 inches (3.8 centimeters) long. The deep body is very narrow from side to side. The belly looks like a semicircle from the side, and the chest muscles are large. The pectoral fins are long and high on the body near the head. These fish are yellow to silver with a dark stripe running along the length of the body. The fins are clear. Geogra…