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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, [1] or the subfamily Serrasalminae within the tetra family, Characidae [2] in order Characiformes.
This characteristic combined with its large size make it a danger to humans. Piranha's attacks on humans are anecdotal for the most part. The piranha mostly prefers to eat small fish and insects, along with seeds and aquatic plant material. The pygocentrus piraya plays a key role in their ecosystem by regulating the population of other fish [5]
A few piranha species occasionally appear in the aquarium trade, and, in recent decades, dried specimens have been marketed as tourist souvenirs. [6] Piranhas occasionally bite and sometimes injure bathers and swimmers, but serious attacks are rare and the threat to humans has been exaggerated. [ 6 ]
The red-bellied piranha, also known as the red piranha (Pygocentrus nattereri), is a type of piranha native to South America, found in the Amazon, Paraguay, Paraná and Essequibo basins, as well as coastal rivers of northeastern Brazil. [2] [3] This fish is locally abundant in its freshwater habitat. [4]
The name Megapiranha is a combination of the word "mega" in reference to the animal's large size and piranha, a common name for typically carnivorous members of Serrasalmidae. The word piranha itself is a Portuguese merging of words originating in the Tupi language and may have several meanings including "tooth fish", [ 5 ] "cutting fish ...
Pygopristis denticulata, also known as the lobetoothed piranha, is a species of piranha. [1] It is a rare South American characiform fish found in the Orinoco River basin, rivers of the northern and eastern Guiana Shield , and tributaries of the lower Amazon River . [ 2 ]
BY RINA NAKANO, FOX40 SACRAMENTO COUNTY — Photos of a mysterious fish caught in the Delta last week are going viral. The photos were posted on Facebook by a woman who said she reeled it in near ...
It is a solitary species of piranha contrary to the social lifestyle of the much popular red-bellied piranha. As with all other piranhas, it is one of the hardest biting creatures on the planet relative to the body weight. This is a popular fish among aquarium hobbyists, although not as much as their red bellied or black piranha counterparts.