The piranha is a ferocious, schooling, fresh-water fish, which is native to warm lowland streams, rivers and lakes in South America, east of the Andes Mountains.
The word piranha should correctly be pronounced 'piranya' as it is a Portuguese word.
Piranhas are opportunistic carnivores. Some of their prey includes amphibians, birds, crustaceans, fish, insects, lizards, mollusks, rodents, and carrion (dead meat that they find).
With their razor sharp teeth some species are known to rapidly devour animals. U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt witnessed a cow being quickly torn apart and skeletonized by a school of hungry piranhas. He wrote about it in his 1914 book Through the Brazilian Wilderness.
According to a 2012 study, the black piranha has the strongest bite force recorded for bony fish.
Piranhas may occasionally attack humans, particularly when water levels are low. In 2011, a series of attacks in the Brazilian state of Piauí resulted in 100 people being injured.
Piranhas enjoy eating beans and other vegetables.
Newly hatched young feed on zooplankton, and eventually move on to small fish once large enough.
Red-bellied piranhas bark to warn predators to leave them alone.
Piranhas are normally about 14 to 26 cm (5.5 to 10.2 in) long, although some specimens have been reported to be up to 43 cm (17 in) in length.
The word piranha should correctly be pronounced 'piranya' as it is a Portuguese word.
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| Pirhana - taken at the Newport, Ky aquarium. By Greg Hume - Wikipedia |
Piranhas are opportunistic carnivores. Some of their prey includes amphibians, birds, crustaceans, fish, insects, lizards, mollusks, rodents, and carrion (dead meat that they find).
With their razor sharp teeth some species are known to rapidly devour animals. U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt witnessed a cow being quickly torn apart and skeletonized by a school of hungry piranhas. He wrote about it in his 1914 book Through the Brazilian Wilderness.
According to a 2012 study, the black piranha has the strongest bite force recorded for bony fish.
Piranhas may occasionally attack humans, particularly when water levels are low. In 2011, a series of attacks in the Brazilian state of Piauí resulted in 100 people being injured.
Piranhas enjoy eating beans and other vegetables.
Newly hatched young feed on zooplankton, and eventually move on to small fish once large enough.
Red-bellied piranhas bark to warn predators to leave them alone.
Piranhas are normally about 14 to 26 cm (5.5 to 10.2 in) long, although some specimens have been reported to be up to 43 cm (17 in) in length.
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