Ecological Risk Screening Summary - Pirambeba (Serrasalmus humeralis) - 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.

Pirambeba (Serrasalmus humeralis) is a species of piranha native to the Amazon River basin in northern South America. No introductions of S. humeralis have been reported other than a probable misidentification of a population of Serrasalmus spp. introduced at a tourist attraction in Dade County, Florida, in the 1960s through stocking of aquarium fish. No information is available on impacts of introduction. S. humeralis is present in the aquarium trade in the United States, although possession or trade of piranhas is prohibited by numerous individual States. History of invasiveness is classified as No Known Nonnative Population. Climate match to the contiguous United States was low overall. The highest climate match occurred in extreme southeastern Florida. Medium matches occurred in other southeastern coastal areas as well as in scattered locations in New Mexico, California, and Washington. Because of the lack of information on impacts of introduction and taxonomic uncertainty, overall risk posed by S. humeralis is Uncertain.

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Uncertain Risk
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Invasive species