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- Helen Thompson
- 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.)
The teeth are serrated which allows nice, clean slices. The piranha also have additional smaller teeth-like structures called "ectopterygoid teeth" (approximately 2-3 mm long). The ectopterygoid itself is a bone (palatine) is like an elongated plate that forms on the roof of the mouth with these small teeth.
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 ...
Aug 23, 2024 · Most species, however, are scavengers or feed on plant material. Most species of piranha never grow larger than 60 cm (2 feet) long. Colours vary from silvery with orange undersides to almost completely black. These common fishes have deep bodies, saw-edged bellies, and large, generally blunt heads with strong jaws bearing sharp, triangular ...
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Description of The Piranha
- Interesting Facts About The Piranha
- Habitat of The Piranha
- Distribution of The Piranha
- Diet of The Piranha
- Piranha and Human Interaction
- Piranha Care
- Behavior of The Piranha
- Reproduction of The Piranha
The easiest way to differentiate piranhas from their close relatives (pacus, silver dollars) is by looking at their teeth. On second thought, perhaps not the easiest way, but definitely the most efficient! Piranhas have specialized teeth that are tightly packed, interlocking, and on a single row on both the upper and lower jaw. Each species is slig...
Multiple movie and television appearances have given these fish quite the ominous reputation. Perhaps best known for their ability to rip apart prey in minutes, schools of piranhas rarely behave so viciously. Learn more about these creatures below. 1. Bite Power– Don’t get it wrong, these fish are incredibly well equipped for tearing apart prey. Th...
These fish are found exclusively in freshwater environments. They are found in a wide variety of freshwater habitats, and each differs depending on the species. Some common habitats include streams, tributaries, creeks, lakes, rivers, wetlands, and flooded areas. Certain species prefer clear waters, while others inhabit more murky environments.
All piranha species are located in South America. The greatest volume of species can be found in the Amazon River and its tributaries, the Orinoco River, Sao Francisco River, Parana River, and the rivers of Guiana. For the most part, a single species will be restricted to one river system. The Amazon River has the most species, followed by the Orin...
Surprisingly, these creatures are considered omnivorous. Depending on the species, some will feed more frequently on vegetation, while others only occasionally eat aquatic plants. Their primary source of food is fish, including their own species, followed by small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, carrion, and crustaceans. They will al...
Attacks on humans are uncommon, but they do occur. Most bites are minor injuries on the feet, legs, and hands but fatalities have occurred. Swimming near fishermen, with lots of splashing, and in areas where prey is scarce or population density is very high, can increase risk of attacks. These fish are quite popular as food in South America, both h...
In aquariums it is recommended to keep one, or a school of piranha. This is because if kept in pairs or very small groups they will pick on and potentially kill the weaker fish. The larger the tank you can provide the better, and 60 gallons is a good minimum for one fish. They require specific temperature and pH that must be monitored. Their diet c...
Each species has slightly different behavior and social needs. Some species are known to congregate in large groups, but others are more likely to be solitary or found in small schools. Most species are diurnal, which means that they are active during the day. Because they are prey themselves, they tend to hide in water with low visibility, particu...
Most of the information we have about the breeding habits of these fish come from aquariums. There are many different species, and each has slightly different reproductive strategies. These fish are oviparous, which means that the female lays eggs, and then the male fertilizes them. She will lay thousands of eggs in underwater vegetation, and these...
Oct 20, 2020 · It has to be said, though, that piranhas have evolved to be highly adept predators. They have one of the most forceful bites of any bony fish, with powerful, dense jaw muscles and razor-sharp, interlocking teeth that are perfect for shearing and tearing flesh. The black piranha, in particular, has a devasting chomp, so you wouldn’t want to go ...
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Nov 27, 2019 · First some information about Piranha’s family! The piranha’s are members of the Characidae (or Characin) family, a large family of more than 1200 species, including some of the most widespread and popular aquarium fish like the all the common tetra’s and hatchetfish. The piranha’s belong to a sub-family called the Serrasalmidae (serra ...
