North American pacu (SciiFii)

The North American pacu (Allopiaractucentrus texum), sometimes inaccurately known as the North American piranha, is a species of pacu that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the wetlands, lakes, rivers, and ponds across North America to help boost biodiversity. The closest living relative of the North American pacu is the pirapitinga (Piaractus brachypomus), which is also known as the red-bellied pacu. North American pacus have a reddish tinge to the belly when fully grown, although juveniles are a silver color with darker spots. The rest of the body in the adult North American pacu is often grey with silver-flecked scales. Sometimes, blackish spots appear behind the gills and the anal fin is usually black at the base. The pectoral and pelvic fins may vary from red to orange. Females can be distinguished from males by the slightly deeper red color of their bellies. The North American pacu can reach up to 3.9 kilograms (8.6 lb) in weight and 50 centimeters (20 inches) in standard length, but rarely surpass 35 centimeters (14 inches). The North American pacu mainly feeds on fruits, seeds and nuts, but it is opportunistic and will also take zooplankton, insects, crustaceans and small fish, especially in the dry season during the summer in more arid areas. In general, more seeds are able to pass undamaged through the North American pacu, meaning that the North American pacu is an efficient seed disperser. In general, the North American pacu's behavior resembles that of the closely related tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum). The North American pacu is migratory, spawning occurs at the middle of fall, lasting between November and February. Larvae of the North American pacus are found in rivers, but adults mainly live in larger river and lake types, including both nutrient-rich and nutrient-poor. The conservation status of the North American pacu is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the North American pacu's wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii