Piranha

piranha facts

Piranha is a generic name used to refer to any of possibly more than 60 species of freshwater fish with sharp teeth.

Piranhas are notorious for being ferocious creatures that can feed in a frenzy and become deadly. However, they actually eat a wide variety of foods, including plants and carrion. Piranhas are fairly small, usually less than two feet, and often travel in small groups called shoals.

5 Unbelievable Piranha Facts!

• This fish's reputation for aggressiveness is exaggerated, thanks in part to Theodore Roosevelt's book Across the Wilds of Brazil.
• These fish may become more aggressive when hungry. If trapped in a pool of stagnant water for an extended period of time, they are likely to attack anything that enters the water.
• Black piranhas have the most powerful bite of any bony fish.
• The fish's top and bottom teeth act like scissors to quickly tear and cut through food.
• Piranhas are constantly losing and growing teeth like sharks.

You can check out more incredible facts about piranhas.

taxonomic name

Piranha is the common name for a variety of fish in the family Serrasalmidae or subfamily Serrasalminae, which also belong to the fourth family Characidae in the order Characiformes. Piranha species exist in several genera, including:

• catoprio
• Periwinkle
• pitaya
• Tail edge
• S. sawtooth

These fish are sometimes called caribe or piraya. Some species-specific scientific names include red-bellied piranha ( Pygocentrus nattereri ), leaf-toothed piranha ( Pygocentrus denticulata ), San Francisco piranha ( Pygocentrus piraya ) and black piranha ( Serrasalmus rhombeus ).

evolution

The discovery of the Megapiranha paranensis fossil is a major breakthrough in understanding the evolution of piranhas. The 5-centimeter-long upper jaw and its serrated teeth suggest that modern piranhas and piranhas shared a common ancestor. The fossil also revealed other features that helped scientists estimate its size, which was much larger than any modern species at 3 feet long. In comparison, modern piranhas are only around 17 inches. It's worth noting that there are many misconceptions about how dangerous and aggressive piranhas really are. Contrary to popular belief, most species actually eat insects or plants rather than meat, and rarely attack humans if they can.

Types of piranhas

The exact number of species is unknown, but it is thought to range from 30 to 60 or more. The most notorious species is the red-bellied piranha, which lives in South America, mainly in the Amazon along with several other piranha species.

Some notable species facts include:

• Red-bellied piranha : This fish lives mainly in the Amazon and is the most notorious of the piranha species, with the strongest jaws and sharpest teeth.
• Black Piranha : Also known as the Red-Eyed Piranha, this fish is considered the largest of the species and is known for having the strongest bite relative to its body weight.
• Lobetooth piranha : This species is also considered dangerous to humans and lives mainly in the Orinoco River Basin and lower tributaries of the Amazon.
• San Francisco Piranha : Primarily found in the San Francisco River in Brazil, this species can also attack large animals and humans, but usually preys on smaller animals.
• Wimple piranha : This fish survives by biting the fins and scales of other fish and then swimming away.

appearance

The color of these fish varies from species to species. For example, the red-bellied piranha is gray with white spots and a red belly. Black piranhas are a uniform gray to almost black color with distinctive red eyes. Piranha species have a characteristic rhomboid shape. They are usually between 6 and 13 inches in length, but some species can grow up to two feet in length. Fish usually weigh no more than 6.6 lbs. They have a recognizable jaw shape with large jaw muscles that connect to the tip of the jaw, making it slightly prominent. The fish's teeth are sharp and serrated, which makes them very good at tearing apart fish flesh quickly.

Distribution, Population and Habitat

These are freshwater fish, native to the Amazon basin. Some species have been found in Bangladesh, China and even the United States, but these usually escape from exotic fish traders. Many species are found in only a single river system, while others, such as the red-bellied piranha, are found in multiple river systems in South America. Some species prefer turbid, slow-moving waters and often live in very shallow water. However, other species live in deep channels and muddy water.

These fish are widely distributed and are not threatened. Small fish are mainly active during the day. Large and medium-sized fish are active at dawn, dusk and night.

There are only a small number of commercial fisheries for these fish, as well as sport fishing. Some species are used as ornamental fish, but are illegal as pets in many areas. They are considered a nuisance by fishermen because they often steal bait, take fish off the line and damage gear.

predator and prey

Most species are opportunistic predators. They can eat just about anything, from plants to other fish, insects, carrion, worms, and more. Some species are adept at eating scales, eating primarily by biting off the scales or fins of other fish. This is more common in juvenile fish and smaller species. Piranhas also frequently forage for food.

What eats piranhas?

These fish are often eaten by anything larger than it, including turtles, crocodiles, other fish, dolphins, and many waterfowl. They were also hunted by humans and used as food fish, or their teeth were used for carving by various South American tribes.

What do piranhas eat?

These fish are omnivorous and eat a wide variety of foods including fruits, seeds, insects and other fish. They may hunt large animals that enter their habitat in packs. A large enough group can kill a sizable animal very quickly. However, they don't usually travel in packs, and they usually attack weak or injured animals.

Reproduction and Lifespan

The reproductive habits of most species are relatively unknown. Most known breeding behaviors have been observed in aquariums. These fish can usually reproduce at one year old. The female lays thousands of eggs near dense vegetation, to which the eggs stick. The male fertilizes the eggs, which then hatch two or three days later. Young fish will hide in vegetation until they are old enough to defend themselves. Parents usually swim around them to protect their nesting grounds. These fish can live up to ten years in captivity, but how long they can live in the wild is unknown.

fishing and cooking

These fish have minor commercial fishing interest and some recreational fishing interest. Grabbing them is fairly simple, but the main key is a tangled line above the hook. Fishermen typically use pieces of meat and aggressively flick or dangle their lines to attract piranhas. Piranhas will usually sweep the bait quickly before it is pulled up. Fish must be handled with great care as they can bite. They also have sharp ridges on their undersides that can cut through the skin and inject bacteria.

These fish are eaten, usually grilled whole. They are mostly eaten in their native South America. The taste was described as very salty, fishy and slightly cooked.

Population and Protection

There is no global data on how many of these fish are left in the world. They are not listed as threatened or endangered by IUCN, CITES or USFWS. New species are still being discovered. The status of all piranha species is currently classified as "least concern".

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