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A piranha or piraña ( / pɪˈrɑːnjəˌ - ræn /, or / pɪˈrɑːnə /; Portuguese: [piˈɾɐ̃ɲɐ], Spanish: [piˈɾaɲa]) is any of a number of freshwater fish species in the family Serrasalmidae, [1] or the subfamily Serrasalminae within the tetra family, Characidae [2] in order Characiformes. These fish inhabit South American rivers ...
- Piranhas’ bad reputation is at least partially Teddy Roosevelt’s fault. When Theodore Roosevelt journeyed to South America in 1913, he encountered, among other exotic creatures, several different species of piranha.
- Piranhas have lived in South America for millions of years. Today, piranhas inhabit the freshwaters of South America from the Orinoco River Basin in Venezuela up to the Paraná River in Argentina.
- Piranhas found outside South America are usually pets on the lam. Piranhas attract a certain type of pet lover, and sometimes when the fish gets too large for its aquarium said pet lover decides its much better off in the local lake.
- Piranha teeth are pretty intense but replaceable. Piranhas are known for their razor-sharp teeth and relentless bite. (The word piranha literally translates to “tooth fish” in the Brazilian language Tupí.)
May 17, 2024 · Piranha are carnivorous fish with sharp teeth that live in South American rivers and lakes. Learn about their diversity, behavior, diet, and the myths and facts of their ferocity.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Mar 30, 2015 · Learn about piranhas, the small fish with big teeth that live in South American rivers. Find out about their appearance, diet, behavior, reproduction, and more.
- 2 min
- The piranha is a relatively small fish with a round body, large head, and bulldog-like face.Piranhas can grow to between 8 and 15 inches (20-37 cm)...
- The idea that piranhas will attack humans is mostly myth. Attacks by piranhas on humans are rare, and most have been exaggerated.Native people will...
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- Piranhas Pose Little Risk to People. Piranha attacks on humans are rare, and when they do occur, typically involve one or just a few bites to the hands or feet by a single fish, resulting in injuries that are painful but not life-threatening.
- They Are Surprisingly Diverse. Piranhas belong to the taxonomic family Serrasalmidae, along with related fish known as pacu and silver dollars. There is no clear consensus about the number of piranha species alive today, due to challenges in identifying species, linking juveniles with adults, and unraveling their evolutionary histories, as researchers wrote in a study published in the journal Zootaxa.
- We Don’t Really Know When They Evolved. Modern piranhas might have evolved as recently as 1.8 million years ago, around the beginning of the Pleistocene Epoch, according to the Zootaxa study.
- Many Piranhas Eat Plants. Despite their stereotype as bloodthirsty carnivores, piranhas are classified as omnivores, since most species eat at least some plant material—and some may even be vegetarian.
Piranhas are freshwater fish with specialized teeth and strong bite force. They are native to South America and have various feeding habits, but are mostly omnivorous. Learn more about their behavior, reproduction, and why they are not as dangerous as they seem.
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Learn about the piranha, a ferocious freshwater fish with razor sharp teeth and powerful jaws. Find out how many species there are, what they eat, where they live, and why they are not as dangerous as they seem.
