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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.
Jun 25, 2024 · Piranha is a term for more than 60 species of carnivorous fish of South American rivers and lakes. Learn about their features, behavior, diversity, and classification 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.)
- They have razor sharp teeth, with tooth enamel structure similar to that of sharks. The piranha has a single row of triangular teeth that are razor sharp.
- Piranha need warm water to survive. As opposed to requiring warm blood – thanks to the world of horror movies – piranha can’t live in water that is less than 54-degrees F.
- Theodore Roosevelt is thought to be somewhat to blame for their reputation. After traveling to South America in 1913, the locals are said to have put on a show for him, by feeding a dead cow to a large group of hungry piranha.
- The word ‘piranha’ actually means “fish tooth” in Amazonian indigenous languages. It is a rather descriptive name considering the teeth and mouth of the piranha.
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 fish, a ferocious, schooling, fresh-water fish native to South America. Find out about its characteristics, diet, habitat, behaviour, reproduction, conservation and human interactions.
In the slow flowing waters of the Pantanal, over 300 species of Fish can be found. Two common predators that patrol these immense wetlands of Brazil are the Red Bellied Piranha and the Dorado...
- 2 min
- 4.6M
- BBC Earth
