Piranha

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For other uses, see Piranha (disambiguation).
Piranha
Pirhana06.jpg
A piranha at the Newport Aquarium, United States
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Subclass: Neopterygii
Infraclass: Teleostei
Order: Characiformes
Family: Characidae
Subfamily: Serrasalminae
Gry, 1972
Tribe: Piranha
Genera
Catoprion
Pristobrycon
Pygocentrus
Pygopristis
Serrasalmus
Megapiranha
A piranha or piraa (/p?'r??n(j)?/, /p?'rn(j)?/, or /p?'r??n?/; Portuguese: [pi'??~
??], Spanish: [pi'?a?a]) is a member of family Characidae[1] in order Characifor
mes, an omnivorous[2] freshwater fish that inhabits South American rivers. In Ve
nezuela, they are called caribes. They are known for their sharp teeth, powerful
jaws, and voracious appetite for meat.
Contents [hide]
1 Taxonomy and evolution
2 Distribution
3 Description
4 Ecology
5 Relationship with humans
6 Attacks
7 Legendary reputation
7.1 Theodore Roosevelt
8 In popular culture
9 See also
10 References
11 External links
Taxonomy and evolution[edit]
Piranhas belong to the subfamily Serrasalmina, which includes closely related om
nivorous[3] fish such as pacus.[4] Traditionally, only the four genera Pristobry
con, Pygocentrus, Pygopristis, and Serrasalmus are considered to be true piranha
s, due to their specialized teeth. However, a recent analysis showed, if the pir
anha group is to be monophyletic, it should be restricted to Serrasalmus, Pygoce
ntrus, and part of Pristobrycon, or expanded to include these taxa plus Pygopris
tis, Catoprion, and Pristobrycon striolatus. Pygopristis was found to be more cl
osely related to Catoprion than the other three piranha genera.[4]
The total number of piranha species is unknown and contested, and new species co
ntinue to be described. Estimates range from fewer than 30 to more than 60.[4]
Piranha in Venezuela.
Distribution[edit]
Piranhas are indigenous to the Amazon basin, in the Orinoco, in rivers of the Gu
ianas, in the Paraguay-Paran, and the So Francisco River systems.
Aquarium piranhas have been unsuccessfully introduced into parts of the United S
tates.[5] In many cases, however, reported captures of piranhas are misidentific
ations of pacu (e.g., red-bellied pacu Piaractus brachypomus is frequently misid
entified as red-bellied piranha Pygocentrus nattereri).[6] Piranhas have also be
en discovered in the Kaptai Lake in southeast Bangladesh. Research is being carr
ied out to establish how piranhas have moved to such distant corners of the worl
d from their original habitat. Some rogue exotic fish traders are thought to hav
e released them in the lake to avoid being caught by antipoaching forces. Piranh
as were also spotted in the Lijiang River in China.[7]
Description[edit]
Jawbone of Pygocentrus nattereri
Piranhas are normally about 14 to 26 cm long (5.5 to 10.25 in), although some sp
ecimens have been reported to be up to 43 cm (17.0 in) in length.[8]
Serrasalmus, Pristobrycon, Pygocentrus, and Pygopristis are most easily recogniz
ed by their unique dentition. All piranhas have a single row of sharp teeth in b
oth jaws; the teeth are tightly packed and interlocking (via small cusps) and ar
e used for rapid puncture and shearing. Individual teeth are typically broadly t
riangular, pointed, and blade-like (flat in profile). The variation in the numbe
r of cusps is minor; in most species, the teeth are tricuspid with a larger midd
le cusp which makes the individual teeth appear markedly triangular. The excepti
on is Pygopristis, which has pentacuspid teeth and a middle cusp usually only sl
ightly larger than the other cusps.
Ecology[edit]
Piranhas have a reputation as ferocious predators that hunt their prey in school
s. Recent research, however, which "started off with the premise that they schoo
l as a means of cooperative hunting", discovered they are timid fish that school
ed for protection from their own predators, such as cormorants, caimans, and dol
phins. Piranhas are "basically like regular fish with large teeth".[9]
Research on the species Serrasalmus aff. brandtii and Pygocentrus nattereri in V
iana Lake, which is formed during the wet season when the Rio Pindare (a tributa
ry of the Rio Mearim) floods, has shown that these species eat vegetable matter
at some stages in their lives; they are not strictly carnivorous fish.[10]
Piranhas lay their eggs in pits dug during the breeding and swim around to prote
ct them. Newly hatched young feed on zooplankton, and eventually move on to smal
l fish once large enough.[11]
Relationship with humans[edit]
Fishing piranha on the Ucayali River
A piranha, lightly grilled, served as food in the Peruvian Amazon
Fried piranhas, served as food in the Brazilian pantanal
A souvenir piranha
Piranha teeth are often used to make tools and weapons by the indigenous populat
ion. Piranhas are also popular as food, although if an individual piranha is cau
ght on a hook or line, it may be attacked by others.[citation needed]
Piranhas can be bought as pets in some areas, but they are illegal in many parts
of the United States.[12] It is illegal to import piranhas into the Philippines
and violators could face six months to four years in jail.[13]
The most common aquarium piranha is Pygocentrus nattereri, the red-bellied piran
ha. Piranhas can be bought fully grown or as young, often no larger than a thumb
nail. It is important to keep Pygocentrus piranhas alone or in groups of four or
more, not in pairs, since aggression among them is common, not allowing the wea
ker fish to survive, and is distributed more widely when kept in larger groups.
It is not rare to find individual piranhas with one eye missing due to a previou
s attack.
Attacks[edit]
Attacks resulting in deaths are occurring in the Amazon basin. In 2011, a drunk
18-year-old man was attacked and killed in Rosario del Yata, Bolivia.[14] In 201
2, a five-year-old Brazilian girl was attacked and killed by a shoal of P. natte
reri.[15] Some Brazilian rivers have warning signs about lethal piranhas.[16] In
2011, in the Brazilian state of Piau, brutal and recurring attacks resulted in 1
00 people being injured.[17] In the state of So Paulo, another attack in the Tiet
River resulted in 15 injured people.[18] In the city of Palmas, Tocantins, 190 p
iranha attacks were reported in the first half of 2007.[19] On 25 December 2013,
70 bathers were attacked in Argentina.[20]
According to one study in Suriname, piranha attacks tend to peak in the dry seas
on when food is relatively scarce and the water levels are lower, leading to hea
vier than usual concentrations of fish in the water. Fatal attacks tend to be ra
re, and most attacks take the form of individual nips and bites to extremities s
uch as the feet and hands. Splashing tends to make piranhas more likely to attac
k, and children are often attacked for this reason.
Legendary reputation[edit]
Various myths exist about piranhas, such as how they can dilacerate a human body
or cattle in seconds. These myths refer specifically to the red-bellied piranha
.[21] A recurrent myth is that they can be attracted by blood and are exclusivel
y carnivores.[22] A Brazilian myth called "piranha cattle" states that they swee
p the rivers at high speed and attack the first of the cattle entering the water
, allowing the rest of the group to traverse the river.[23] These myths were dis
missed through research by Helder Queiroz and Anne Magurran and published in Bio
logy Letters.[24] Nevertheless, a study in Suriname found that piranhas may occa
sionally attack humans, particularly when water levels are low.[25]
Theodore Roosevelt[edit]
When American President Theodore Roosevelt visited Brazil in 1913, he went on a
hunting expedition through the Amazon Rainforest. While standing on the bank of
the Amazon River, he witnessed a spectacle created by local fishermen. After blo
cking off part of the river and starving the piranhas for several days, they pus
hed a cow into the water, where it was quickly torn apart by a school of hungry
piranhas.[26][27]
Roosevelt would later present the piranhas as vicious creatures in his 1914 book
Through the Brazilian Wilderness, indicating,
They are the most ferocious fish in the world. Even the most formidable fish, th
e sharks or the barracudas, usually attack things smaller than themselves. But t
he piranhas habitually attack things much larger than themselves. They will snap
a finger off a hand incautiously trailed in the water; they mutilate swimmersin
every river town in Paraguay there are men who have been thus mutilated; they wi
ll rend and devour alive any wounded man or beast; for blood in the water excite
s them to madness. They will tear wounded wild fowl to pieces; and bite off the
tails of big fish as they grow exhausted when fighting after being hooked.
But the piranha is a short, deep-bodied fish, with a blunt face and a heavily un
dershot or projecting lower jaw which gapes widely. The razor-edged teeth are we
dge-shaped like a sharks, and the jaw muscles possess great power. The rabid, fur
ious snaps drive the teeth through flesh and bone. The head with its short muzzl
e, staring malignant eyes, and gaping, cruelly armed jaws, is the embodiment of
evil ferocity; and the actions of the fish exactly match its looks.
I never witnessed an exhibition of such impotent, savage fury as was shown by th
e piranhas as they flapped on deck. When fresh from the water and thrown on the
boards they uttered an extraordinary squealing sound. As they flapped about they
bit with vicious eagerness at whatever presented itself. One of them flapped in
to a cloth and seized it with a bulldog grip. Another grasped one of its fellows
; another snapped at a piece of wood, and left the teeth-marks deep therein. The
y are the pests of the waters, and it is necessary to be exceedingly cautious ab
out either swimming or wading where they are found.
If cattle are driven into, or of their own accord enter, the water, they are com
monly not molested; but if by chance some unusually big or ferocious specimen of
these fearsome fishes does bite an animaltaking off part of an ear, or perhaps o
f a teat from the udder of a cowthe blood brings up every member of the ravenous
throng which is anywhere near, and unless the attacked animal can immediately ma
ke its escape from the water it is devoured alive.[28]