A piranha or pirana is a member of family Characidae in order Characiformes, an omnivorous freshwater fish that inhabits South American rivers. In Venezuela, they are called caribes. Piranhas are small to medium sized fish that live in rivers of South America. Some piranhas can be found in warm lakes and rivers of North America and in Kaptai Lake in Bangladesh. Word piranha means “fish tooth” in indigenous languages of Amazon. Exact number of species of piranha is unknown (between 30 and 60). They are not endangered.
Piranhas are indigenous to the Amazon basin, in the Orinoco, in rivers of the Guianas, in the Paraguay-Paraná, and the São Francisco River systems. Aquarium piranhas have been unsuccessfully introduced into parts of the United States.Some piranhas do occasionally eat small mammals, but as with humans, it’s usually when the unfortunate animal is already dead or gravely injured. A typical piranha diet consists of insects, fish, crustaceans, worms, carrion, seeds and other plant material.
Interesting Piranhas Facts:
Piranhas have silver body covered with red patches that serve as camouflage in muddy waters which they inhabit.
Piranha can be 5.5-17 inches in length and weight about 7.7 pounds.
Most people think that piranhas have insatiable appetite for blood, but they are actually omnivores animals (eat animals and plants). They usually eat snails, fish, aquatic animals and plants, seed and fruit. They will feast on mammals and birds when they fall into the water, which doesn’t happen that often.
Their sharp and pointed teeth are arranged in a single row. They can bite through hook made of silver.
Their jaw bone is so strong, that it can crush a human hand in 5-10 seconds.
Local people use piranha’s teeth to make weapon and other tools.
* Information on the traditional uses and properties of herbs/ animals/ yoga/ places are provided on this site is for educational use only, and is not intended as medical advice. all image credit goes to their Photographers.
