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A piranha or piraña (/ p ɪ ˈ r ɑː n j ə ˌ-r æ n /, or / p ɪ ˈ r ɑː n ə /; Portuguese: [piˈɾɐ̃ɲɐ], Spanish:) is any of a number of freshwater fish species in the family Serrasalmidae, or the subfamily Serrasalminae within the tetra family, Characidae in order Characiformes.
3 days ago · Piranha are carnivorous fish with sharp teeth that live in South American rivers and lakes. Learn about their diversity, behavior, diet, and myths from Britannica's editors.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- 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.)
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.
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.
- Rivers, Lakes, Reservoirs, Floodplains
- Amazon Basin
- 10-20 Years
- 30-80 cm
Aug 17, 2021 · Learn 10 surprising facts about piranhas, the misunderstood freshwater fish of South America. Find out how they bite, eat, school, and cope with predators and humans.
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.
