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Movement and activity patterns of the black piranha

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Abstract

Adult black piranhas, Serrasalmus rhombeus, were radio-tracked using purpose built equipment in the 2.6 km long oxbow lake Coco Cocha, south east Peru during a five month period in the dry season of 1995. Fish were tagged externally in front of the dorsal fin. S. rhombeus showed generally localised movements in different sections of the lake with only one making use of its whole length during the tracking period. S. rhombeus in the shallower extreme sections of the lake were seen to make frequent trips into flooded forest. Speed plots and perceived activity plots revealed cyclic patterns of movement and activity synchronised with dawn. Those fish tracked at night were active until after dark and sometimes throughout the night into the early hours of the morning.

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Cohen, M.A., Beaumont, W.R. & Thorp, N.C. Movement and activity patterns of the black piranha. Environmental Biology of Fishes 54, 45–52 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007489424146

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007489424146

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