Ecological Risk Screening Summary - Orinoco Piranha (Pygocentrus cariba) - Uncertain Risk

Species that are considered uncertain risk need a more in-depth assessment beyond the Risk Summary to better define the species’ risk to U.S. environments.

Pygocentrus cariba, Orinoco piranha, is a fish native to Colombia and Venezuela. This species has not been reported as introduced or established outside of its native range. Due to concerns about the risk Pygocentrus sp. and other piranha genera pose to the environment and human safety if introduced to United States waters, many states ban or strictly regulate the possession of piranhas. History of invasiveness is uncertain. P. cariba has a low climate match with the contiguous United States. The only state with a medium climate score was Florida. Because this species has never been documented as introduced outside of its native range, further information is needed to adequately assess the risk this species poses. Certainty of assessment is low. The overall risk assessment category is Uncertain.

Publication date
Type of document
Uncertain Risk
Program
A man is fishing in a boat with three young girls. The kids are excitedly pulling a fish out of the water.
The Fish and Aquatic Conservation programs work together to deliver resilient habitats, healthy fish, connected people, and strong partnerships. From habitat restoration to aquatic invasive species prevention, captive breeding to population assessment and monitoring, our programs are driven by the...
Silver Carp Jumping
Aquatic invasive species cause tremendous harm to our environment, our economy, and our health. They can drive out and eat native plants and wildlife, spread diseases, and damage infrastructure. We work to protect our waterways and the communities that depend on them from the threat of invasive...
Subject tags
Invasive species