Jim Pendrake
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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.
4 days ago · 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
- 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.)
Learn about the piranha, a freshwater fish native to South America with specialized teeth and strong bite. Find out about its different species, behavior, reproduction, and why it is not as dangerous as it seems.
- Red-Bellied Piranha (Pygocentrus nattereri) The Red-Bellied Piranha, or simply Red Piranha, lives in the Amazon, Paraguay, Paraná, and Essequibo basins.
- Redeye Piranha (Serrasalmus rhombeus) The Redeye Piranha bears many names, conveying its different features. People also call them white piranha, black piranha, or yellow piranha.
- San Francisco Piranha (Pygocentrus piraya) The San Francisco Piranha lives in the São Francisco River in Brazil. Its other names are Piraya piranha, Rio São Francisco piranha, and black-tailed piranha.
- Gold Piranha (Pristobrycon aureus) Gold Piranhas live in the Guyana River and the lower portions of the Amazon River in South America. When young, they have a golden color that fades to silver as they mature.
Mar 24, 2017 · 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
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.
