Invasive Species

Group: Fishes

Family: Characidae

Scientific Name:  Piaractus Brachypomus

Common Name: Pirapatinga, Red Bellied Pacu

Native Habbitat: Freshwater

The Piaractus Brachypomus have been reported to be found since 1988 in 41 different states.  Machado-Allison was the scientist who first revised the Pacus and give it its distinguishing characteristics.  Although, any of them found in U.S waters have been misidentified as the red piranha.  The Pacu will accept almost all food, but usually diets on ocean vegetation, therefore they pose no threat to other species, nor prey on them.  The first of this species was found on August 29, 1988 in Elk River, Limestone County, Alabama.  Since, they've been reported each year throughout the U.S.  Their native waters and source of distribution is South America: Amazon and Orinoco River Basins, and Argentina.

This photo shows the distribution of the Pacu throughout U.S waters.

http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/SpeciesList.aspx?Group=&State=ME&Sortby=%5BGroup%5D,Genus,Species,SubSpecies&submit2=Submit

http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.aspx?SpeciesID=427

http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/fish/redbellypacu.php