Serrasalmus spilopleura
The speckled piranha is a compact, deep-bodied piranha native to western Brazil, originally described from the Rio Guaporé in Mato Grosso. It also turns up in the upper Paraná River system.
Anglers fishing the Pantanal and surrounding drainages encounter it regularly, though taxonomic confusion with related species means catches are sometimes misidentified. Small but equipped with the razor dentition the family is known for.
Scientific Name: Serrasalmus spilopleura
Also known as Pirambeba, piranha-preta, speckled piranha
- Deep, laterally compressed body with a rounded head profile — rounder than most Serrasalmus, which can cause confusion with Pygocentrus piranhas in older fish.
- Adults show a yellowish-silver base color; belly, lower jaw, and lower gill cover flush golden-yellow. Paired fins yellow to orange, sometimes black-edged; dorsal and adipose fins dark grey.
- Caudal fin light grey with a dark root, dark rim, and a narrow semi-transparent terminal band (the "hyaline edge") — a reliable field mark for this species.
- Tops out around 25–26 cm total length; most fish run closer to 20–25 cm.
What to know
Habitat Distribution
- Native to Brazil; the type locality is the Rio Guaporé, Bobota, Mato Grosso — the western Brazilian drainage that forms part of the Bolivian border.
- Also documented in the upper Paraná River basin in Brazil, where reproductive studies have been conducted.
- Freshwater species occupying mid-water to near-bottom zones in tropical river systems, flooded areas, and associated lakes.
- Prefers warm, slightly acidic to neutral water — pH 5.0–7.0, temperatures 23–28°C — typical of the blackwater and clearwater systems of central and western Brazil.
Key Locations
- Rio Guaporé, Mato Grosso — the type locality and core native range in western Brazil, within the broader Pantanal region.
- Upper Paraná River basin — documented population with published reproductive research; accessible from several Brazilian states.
Specific Spots
- Flooded forest margins and submerged vegetation during high water — cover gives the fish a staging point near prey moving through shallow areas.
- Deeper pools and channel edges during low water, when fish concentrate as floodplains drain back into the main river.
- Undercut banks and woody debris in slower side channels, where reduced current lets the fish hold position with minimal effort.
Serrasalmus spilopleura FAQ
Answers from onWater's species guide.
What are the best lures and bait for Serrasalmus spilopleura?
Small spoons and spinners in silver or gold, they mimic the flash of a baitfish fin or flank and draw reaction strikes from a species attuned to targeting fish body parts.
When is the best time to fish for Serrasalmus spilopleura?
High-water season (roughly November–March in the Pantanal and Paraná systems) pushes fish into flooded forest and margins, where they are more dispersed but accessible near cover. Low-water season (roughly May–September) concentrates fish in deeper pools and main channels, making them easier to locate and target.
How do you catch Serrasalmus spilopleura?
Most fishing for this species in Brazil happens incidentally while targeting other piranha species, using cut bait or small lures fished near structure from a boat.
What do Serrasalmus spilopleura eat?
Fin tissue is a primary and well-documented food source, this species is a specialized fin-feeder, cropping the caudal fins of other fish rather than always taking whole prey. This behavior is unusual among piranhas and has been studied specifically in Brazilian populations.
Where do Serrasalmus spilopleura live?
Native to Brazil; the type locality is the Rio Guaporé, Bobota, Mato Grosso, the western Brazilian drainage that forms part of the Bolivian border. Also documented in the upper Paraná River basin in Brazil, where reproductive studies have been conducted.
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