Pygocentrus cariba

{{Short description|Species of fish}}

{{Speciesbox

| image = Pygocentrus_cariba.JPG

| genus = Pygocentrus

| species = cariba

| status = LC

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = Lasso, C. 2023. Pygocentrus cariba. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2023: e.T176037959A176038088. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T176037959A176038088.en. Accessed on 30 October 2024.

| authority = (Humboldt, 1821)

| synonyms =

}}

Pygocentrus cariba or black spot piranha is a species of piranha endemic to Venezuela and Colombia; specifically, to the Orinoco River basin lowlands and the Llanos region. This species can reach a total length of {{convert|27.9|cm|in}}. It is popular as a game fish.{{FishBase |genus= Pygocentrus|species= cariba| month = April | year = 2013}}

They are a carnivorous species, that feed on a wide variety of fish, carrion, invertebrates, and other aquatic animals.

The name Cariba means cannibal in native language, and comes from the people of the Island Caribs who had a reputation as warriors who raided neighboring islands, and practiced cannibalism, according to the Spanish conquistadors. This species has very high propensity for cannibalism among its species.