![piranha fish piranha fish](https://www.scienews.com/images/2019/10/56cbae22c149de2f8f95bd698eadae01.jpg)
This conception was created from the past belief that piranhas created schools for hunting purposes. The piranha fish is commonly portrayed and known as a vicious species of fish hunting in large schools. Some piranha species are abundant and multiple species often occur together. Although largely restricted to lowland waters, these fishes are widespread and inhabit diverse habitats within both lotic (interactions within flowing continental waters) and lentic (interactions within still continental waters) environments. Piranha Fish are important components of their native environments. Piranhas are typically found in white-water streams. Feeding frenzies will be triggered when there is a shortage of food or blood in the water. During the day, smaller fish typically search for food whilst at dawn, late afternoon and early evening the larger fish search for food. Larger fish and small mammals may be attacked if there is a school of piranhas.įoraging methods vary in the different life stages of Piranhas. Piranhas are diurnal (most active during the day). Some of their prey includes fish, mollusks, crustaceans, insects, birds, lizards, amphibians, rodents and carrion (carcasses). They eat aquatic and land animals that are in the water. Piranhas are opportunistic carnivores (flesh-eaters). Their teeth are tightly packed and interlocking (via small cusps) and used for rapid puncture and shearing. When one is broken off, a new one grows in its place.Īll piranhas have a single row of sharp teeth in both jaws. Piranhas have a bulldog-like face with a very large lower jaw and many razor-sharp teeth.
![piranha fish piranha fish](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YRv_lHQZfbQ/maxresdefault.jpg)
Piranhas are normally about 15 to 25 centimetres long (6 to 10 inches), although reported individuals have been found to be up to 41 centimetres (24 inches) in length. Piranhas range in color from yellow to steel-grey to bluish to partly red to almost black. The total number of piranha species is not known and new species continue to be described.
![piranha fish piranha fish](https://www.goodfreephotos.com/albums/animals/fish/vicious-red-bellied-piranha.jpg)
Although Piranhas are omnivorous, they are known for their sharp teeth and an aggressive appetite for meat. Piranha Fish belong to the genera ‘Pygocentrus’ and ‘Serrasalmus’. Piranha Fish have been introduced to other places, including Northern Brazil, Hawaii, parts of the Central and North America. It is native to warm rainforest lowland streams and lakes in South America – the Orinoco river basin in Venezuela, in the Orinoco River and east of the Andes Mountains, up to the Paraná River in Argentina. The Piranha Fish (also known as the ‘caribe’ in Venezuela) is a ferocious, schooling, fresh-water fish.