Public domain image
Where do piranhas live?
There are about 30 species of piranhas that all live in the lakes and rivers of South America’s Amazon River basin, where they are indigenous. Modern piranhas have lived in the region for about 1.8 million years and fossils suggest their ancestors may have inhabited the continent 25 million years ago.
Occasionally piranhas have been discovered in freshwater as far away as Europe and China. These animals are abandoned pets who have been dumped in unfamiliar waterways by irresponsible owners. Read about the lionfish to see how this human behavior can cause big problems for underwater ecosystems.
What do piranhas do all day?
Piranhas live in groups called schools or shoals. Usually a shoal has about 20 individuals but sometimes can have over 100. Swimming together helps keep the fish safe from predators, including larger fish, crocodiles, birds and mammals like jaguars and humans. Piranhas spend most of their day hiding and looking for food.
Why are they called piranhas?
The word piranha comes from a word meaning “tooth fish” in the now-extinct language once spoken by the Tupipeople of Brazil. It’s a pretty accurate description.
Adult piranhas have a single row of triangular blade-like interlocking teeth that are needle sharp. They can easily slice through bone. While they regularly lose teeth individually, they regrow them in quarters, so you may see a piranha with a whole section of missing teeth.
What do piranhas eat?
Piranhas eat smaller fish and nips of other fish’s tails, bugs and worms, crustaceans and carrion (dead meat). Some are omnivorous, eating plants and seeds as well as meat, and one species in Brazil is reported to only eat river weeds. These fish help maintain healthy ecosystems as both predators and scavengers.
Red bellied piranhas are known to be carnivorous and hunt in packs. They can smell and sense movement. At Berkshire Museum, they eat worms and frozen fish called smelt. If one of the piranha in pack is weak or sick, the others will eat it.
Do piranhas eat people?
While piranhas have a reputation for being ferocious man-eaters, they rarely attack and hardly ever kill humans. Red-bellied piranhas are the most aggressive and have been known to bite humans in the dry season, when food may be scarce, but these attacks are usually not fatal. A staple food for indigenous people in the Amazon, piranhas are more likely to be eaten by people than the other way around.
How big do piranhas get?
Given time, food, and space to grow, red-bellied piranhas can reach over 15 inches long and weigh up to 7 pounds. More commonly, they grow to between 6-8 inches and weigh about 3 pounds.
How long do piranhas live?
In captivity, piranhas can live 10-20 years.
How do piranhas communicate with each other?
Piranhas can make different sounds, especially when they’re feeling afraid or defensive. They may bark, grunt or make thudding or drumming sounds. To do this, they use their swimbladder, an organ most fish have that helps them float in water.
How do piranhas reproduce?
Red-bellied piranha pairs begin their courtship by swimming in circles. The male builds a nest shaped like a bowl near some aquatic plants where the female deposits thousands of eggs. The male fertilizes the eggs and then stays to guard and tend to them, like the male clownfish. After two or three days, the eggs hatch and the baby piranhas hide among the plants until they are big enough to defend themselves.
Are piranhas endangered?
Piranhas are abundant in their habitat and are not listed as endangered.
Do piranhas make good pets?
Many states prohibit people from owning piranhas as pets, including Massachusetts.
