Piranha is the collective name given by the public to a group of fish distributed in the Amazon River in South America, also translated as water tiger fish (Piranha). It does not refer to a specific fish, but rather to a taxon that includes nearly 56 species. Belong to the fat carp family in the saw salmon fat carp subfamily, according to the different food and habits, can be divided into: phytophagous, carnivorous two kinds. Piranha, commonly referred to as pomfret, refers to the carnivorous red-bellied sawfish (nattereri) of this subfamily. The fish has a body length of 30 centimeters (not counting the caudal fin). It is found mainly in rivers from the Andes east to the Brazilian plains. In addition to the Amazon River, the Cuiabá and Orinoco Rivers are its main sources. It is now in the Amazon River basin of South America, distributed in Argentina and Brazil.
The piranha is known for its ferocity and is commonly known as the "wolf family in the water".
Piranha Pictures Collection(20 Pictures)
Feeding on fish and water animals, piranhas have also been recorded attacking people. However, some similar species (such as the red-finned pomfret) eat only fruits and seeds, and gather in the shade to rest at midday. Adults are usually active in the morning and evening, individuals 15-24 centimeters in length are usually active at dusk (12:00 - 22:00), and juveniles (8 - 11 centimeters) are active throughout the day.
The Piranha has a highly developed sense of hearing and unusually sharp teeth. It bites its prey and then clings to it, tearing the flesh off with the twisting of its body. A bite can bite off 16 cubic centimeters of meat. Teeth are replaced in turn to enable them to continue foraging, and strong teeth immediately result in severe bite wounds. Often found in groups, each group has a leader. During the dry season the waters disappear and the Piranha gather in large groups to attack animals passing through the waters. It has long been thought that the smell of blood triggers the attacks, but it is also thought that the noise and splashing caused by injured animals attracts their attention.
The piranha may be small in size, but its temperament is fierce and brutal. Once the bitten prey overflows with blood, it will be mad as hell and use its sharp pointed teeth to frantically tear and cut like a surgeon's scalpel. Schools of piranhas are vicious and frantic in character, tearing and cutting their prey with their sharp teeth until they are left with a pile of skeletons. If it is a small number of domesticated piranhas, they cowardly retreat to the furthest corner of the tank dare not move. [1]
Piranhas are extremely intelligent and will attack their prey's tail and eyes first. Only when it can't swim anymore will it swarm and share the prey. Even large animals will attack the shoulder first, because it is the weakest. But the piranha is clumsy and doesn't swim fast. Scientists believe that the discus-shaped body shape is a sign that they recognize each other. Piranha also has a unique endowment, that is, only when the group is ferocious. Once out of the group or when the number is small, it will become very timid. If they are not hungry, even if they put their hands in the water, they will not attack. They will even cower in a corner.
The piranha's upper and lower palate bite is so powerful that it can bite through cowhide and even hard wooden boards, and break steel fishing hooks with a single bite, so other fish are certainly no match for it. Usually in the water king of the crocodile, once encountered the piranha, will also be scared to shrink into a ball, turn the body face to face, the hard back down, immediately floating to the surface of the water, so that the piranha can not bite into the abdomen, to save their own lives. [4]
The piranha's life is characterized by group living and solitary living, with hundreds or thousands of them living in groups, and the smallest group of six can be formed into a swarm, and it can use vision, smell, and a keen sense of vibration of the water to search for an attacking target at the same time. However, it has poor eyesight and relies on its discus-like body shape to distinguish between similar species.
Piranhas have the guts to attack animals several times or even dozens of times larger than themselves, and they have a well-established "siege tactic". When they hunt, piranhas always first bite the fatal parts of their prey, such as the eyes or tail, so that they lose the ability to escape, and then take turns attacking in groups, one by one, rushing forward to take a bite, and then get out of the way for the fish behind them to leave a place for them to quickly turn the target into a zero, and its speed is incredibly fast.
But some studies have also shown that piranhas don't attack prepared livebearers, meaning that if you can get into waters with piranhas without fear, they don't attack you. But this has not been further proven.