Megapiranha

Megapiranha is an extinct serrasalmid characin fish from the Late Miocene (8–10 million years ago) Ituzaingó Formation of Argentina, described in 2009.[1] The type species is M. paranensis.[2] It is thought to have been about 71 centimetres (28 in) in length and 10 kilograms (22 lb) in weight.[3] The holotype consists only of premaxillae and a zigzag tooth row; the rest of its body is unknown.[4] This dentition is reminiscent of both the double-row seen in pacus, and the single row seen in the teeth of modern piranhas, suggesting that M. paranensis is a transitional form. Its bite force is estimated between 1,240–4,749 N (279–1,068 lbf).[3]

For the 2010 film, see Mega Piranha.

Megapiranha
Temporal range: Late Miocene (Huayquerian)
~9.0–6.8 Ma
↓
Comparison of M. paranensis and the tambaqui
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Actinopterygii
Order:
Characiformes
Family:
Serrasalmidae
Genus:
†Megapiranha

Cione et al. 2009
Species:
†M. paranensis
Binomial name
Megapiranha paranensis
Cione et al. 2009

References
  1. Live Science: Toothy 3-foot Piranha Fossil Found
  2. Megapiranha at Fossilworks.org
  3. Grubich, J.R.; Huskey, S.; Crofts, S.; Orti, G.; Porto, J. (2012). "Mega-Bites: Extreme jaw forces of living and extinct piranhas (Serrasalmidae)". Scientific Reports. 2: 1009. doi:10.1038/srep01009. PMC 3526859. PMID 23259047.
  4. Cione, Alberto Luis; Dahdul, Wasila M.; Lundberg, John G.; Machado-Allison, Antonio (2009). "Megapiranha paranensis, a new genus and species of Serrasalmidae (Characiformes, Teleostei) from the Upper Miocene of Argentina". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 29 (2): 350. doi:10.1671/039.029.0221. (Summary of the paper).


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