![]() ![]() Attacks by piranhas on humans are rare, and most have been exaggerated. The idea that piranhas will attack humans is mostly myth. They live in water that is 75-86 degrees Fahrenheit (24-30 degrees Celsius). They are highly tolerant of many water conditions surviving in whitewater, blackwater, and clearwater rivers. They have even been found in flooded forests. They can inhabit diverse locations such as lakes, tributaries, wetlands and creeks. Piranhas are freshwater fish, and are found primarily in South America in the Amazon Basin, the Orinoco River and east of the Andes Mountains. The video below shows a piranha feeding frenzy in full swing! Piranhas are capable of stripping their prey of flesh in a matter of minutes, and when frenzied, will bite one another in the process. When this occurs, the water seems to boil and churn. Sensing blood in the water, each fish in the shoal attempts to tear off a piece of food. Piranha feeding frenzies occur when there has been a shortage of food and the shoal locates some prey. This means that if the opportunity arises for an easy meat meal, piranhas will take it! Piranha Feeding Frenzies Piranhas are known as ‘opportunistic carnivores’. They will also eat small mammals and birds that have fallen into the water. However, they didn’t get their ferocious meat eating reputation for nothing. Piranhas mostly eat smaller fish, snails, insects, and some aquatic plants. Piranha Dietĭespite their reputation of being voracious meat eaters, piranhas are actually omnivores (plant and meat eaters). It’s not uncommon to find a piranha with half of its bottom teeth missing, waiting for the new set to emerge.Ī young fish of only 6 inches can already possess teeth that are 1/6 of an inch long! It is extremely rare for piranhas to attack humans. The teeth grow in four sets one for each corner of the fish’s mouth. The teeth are triangular in shape and are used to puncture and tear the fish’s prey.Ī piranha’s teeth are replaced continuously throughout its lifetime. The piranha’s most notable characteristic is of course its set of razor sharp teeth. One of the most common species of piranhas is the red-bellied piranha, so named for its reddish belly.Īnother common type of piranha is the black piranha. Piranhas come in an array of different colours, including yellow, gray, blue, red, and black. There are at least 20 species of piranha – and there could be as many as 60! Scientists are unsure of exactly how many species there are. Piranhas swim in shoals for protection, not to hunt. There are usually around 20 piranhas in a shoal.Īlthough it was once believed that piranhas swim in shoals in order to attack, it is now thought that swimming in groups provides protection from predators. Piranhas can grow to between 8 and 15 inches (20-37 cm) long. The piranha is a relatively small fish with a round body, large head, and bulldog-like face. Although piranhas are predatory, they are also just as likely to be preyed on by other animals.ĭo you need to be careful when you go swimming in the rainforest? Read on to find out … Piranha Facts: Appearance & Size ![]() The piranha’s fearsome reputation is partly due to fact, and partly due to fiction. This article contains piranha facts and information, and is part of our Rainforest Animals series. ![]() Piranhas are small fish with a big reputation - and big teeth! Piranhas are freshwater fish, and live in the rivers and streams of South America. ![]()
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