Piranha

A piranha or piraa is a freshwater fish that lives in South American rivers, floodplains, lakes, and reservoirs. It is a member of the family Serrasalmidae, or the subfamily Serrasalminae of the tetra family, Characidae in the order Characiformes. Although they are frequently regarded as extremely predatory and mostly eat fish, their dietary habits vary greatly, and they will also eat plant material, earning them the title of an omnivore.

The indigenous Tupi people and their Tupi language are the sources of the name. It's made up of two words: "pirá" for fish and "sainha" for teeth; Indians use the same phrase to describe a pair of scissors. Or "pira nya," which means "biting-fish" in English. The word piranha was coined by the Portuguese in the mid-eighteenth century.

Piranhas are members of the Serrasalminae subfamily, which contains closely related omnivorous fish like pacus. Due to their particular teeth, only the four genera Pristobrycon, Pygocentrus, Pygopristis, and Serrasalmus are regarded as real piranhas. According to a recent study, the piranha group should either be restricted to Serrasalmus, Pygocentrus, and a portion of Pristobrycon, or expanded to include these taxa plus Pygopristis, Catoprion, and Pristobrycon striolatus if it is to be monophyletic. The other three piranha genera were determined to be more closely related to Catoprion than Pygopristis.

The total number of piranha species is unknown and disputed, and new ones are being discovered all the time. The number of people estimated ranges from fewer than 30 to more than 60.

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Piranha Fish Scientific Classification

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Actinopterygii

Order: Characiformes

Superfamily: Erythrinoidea

Family: Serrasalmidae

Piranha Physical Appearance

Most piranhas grow to be between 12 and 35 cm (5–14 in) in length, depending on the species. Only a few species can surpass 50 cm in length, with the Biggest piranha living species, the red-bellied, reaching that length (20 in). Although there have been rumours of So Francisco piranhas reaching 60 cm (24 in), the greatest documented specimens are far smaller. Megapiranha, an extinct fish that existed 8–10 million years ago, grew to be about 71 cm (28 in) long, and potentially even 100 cm (40 in).

The unusual dentition of Serrasalmus, Pristobrycon, Pygocentrus, and Pygopristis makes them clearly identifiable. In both jaws, piranhas have a single row of sharp teeth. The teeth are intended for quick penetration and shearing and are tightly packed and interlocking (through small cusps). Individual teeth are usually triangular, sharp, and blade-like in shape (flat in profile). The number of cusps varies only a little. The teeth are tricuspid in most species, with a bigger centre cusp that makes the individual teeth appear triangular. Pygopristis, on the other hand, has pentacuspid teeth and a middle cusp that is typically just slightly larger than the other cusps.

Piranha bites are one of the most powerful bites among bony fish. The black piranha (Serrasalmus rhombeus) has one of the most powerful bites among vertebrates when assessed by body mass. Large jaw muscles (adductor mandibulae) attached close to the tip of the jaw provide this incredibly powerful and lethal bite, giving the piranha a mechanical advantage that favours force production above bite speed. They can rip flesh with their powerful jaws and sharply serrated fangs.

Piranha Distribution

Piranhas are native to the Amazon basin, the Orinoco, rivers of the Guianas, the Paraguay–Paraná, and the Sao Francisco River basins, but the species richness varies greatly. In a survey of 38–39 piranha species, 25 were from the Amazon and 16 from the Orinoco, with only three from Paraguay–Paraná and two from San Francisco. The majority of species are limited to a single river system, however, others (like the red-bellied piranha) can be found in multiples. Many species can coexist; for example, seven species can be found in Venezuela's Cao Maporal stream.

In several places in the United States, aquarium piranhas have been unsuccessfully introduced. However, many recorded piranha captures are actually misidentifications of pacu (for example, red-bellied pacu (Piaractus brachypomus) is regularly mistaken for red-bellied piranha (Pygocentrus nattereri). Piranhas have also been discovered in southeast Bangladesh's Kaptai Lake. Researchers are trying to figure out how piranhas got to such far-flung parts of the globe from their natural habitat. To escape being caught by anti-poaching forces, some rogue exotic fish traffickers are said to have released them in the lake. Piranhas have also been spotted in China's Lijiang River.

Piranha Ecology

Depending on the species, piranhas have a wide range of ecology and behaviour. Piranhas, particularly the red-bellied (Pygocentrus nattereri), have a reputation for being vicious predators that hunt in groups. Recent studies, however, showed that they are shy fish that schooled for protection from their own predators, such as cormorants, caimans, and dolphins, and that they "started off with the idea that they school as a way of cooperative hunting." Piranhas are "essentially typical fish with enormous teeth," according to Wikipedia. A few additional species can be found in big groups, but the majority of them are solitary or in tiny groups.

Piranha diets vary widely, leading to their classification as omnivore, despite the fact that they are often classified as extremely predatory and mostly eating fish. Other recorded feeding items for piranhas include other vertebrates (mammals, birds, reptiles), invertebrates (insects, crustaceans), fruits, seeds, leaves, and detritus, in addition to fish (including their own species). Diets change as people get older and bigger. The species Serrasalmus aff. brandtii and Pygocentrus nattereri at Viana Lake in Maranhao, which is formed during the wet season when the Pindaré River (a tributary of the Mearim River) floods, have been found to eat mostly fish, but also vegetable matte, according to research.

In another research of more than 250 Serrasalmus rhombeus at the Ji-Paraná (Machado) River, fish made up 75 to 81%  of the stomach content (depending on the season), whereas fruits and seeds made up about 10%. The dietary split may be more equal in a few species, such as Serrasalmus serrulatus, but this is less certain due to smaller samples: Several of the 24 S. serrulatus collected from the flooded forests of the Ji-Paraná (Machado) River had fish remnants in their stomachs, but half of them had masticated seeds, which were the primary item in most of them. Serrasalmus elongatus, for example, is a specialised scale-eater that feeds mostly on the scales and fins of other fish. Juvenile and sub-adult piranhas are more likely to devour scales and fins.

Piranhas defend their eggs by swimming around in trenches excavated during the breeding season. When the young are just hatched, they eat zooplankton before moving on to small fish.

Relationship with Humans

Piranha teeth are frequently used as tools (for example, to carve wood or cut hair) or to modify other tools (such as sharpening of darts). Several South American tribes, including the Camayura and Shavante in Brazil and the Pacahuara in Bolivia, have been observed engaging in this practice. Piranhas are also eaten as a delicacy. Anglers consider them a nuisance since they steal bait, consume catches, destroy fishing gear, and can bite if accidentally caught.

Piranhas can be purchased as pets in some locations, although they are prohibited in many parts of the United States and the Philippines, where importers face six months to four years in prison and the piranhas must be destroyed to prevent further spread.

Pygocentrus nattereri, the red-bellied piranha, is the most common aquarium piranha. Piranhas can be purchased either fully grown or as young as a thumbnail. Pygocentrus piranhas should be kept alone or in groups of four or more, not in pairs, because conflict among them is prevalent, preventing the weaker fish from surviving, and is more widely spread when kept in bigger groups. Individual piranhas with one eye gone owing to a previous attack are not uncommon.

Piranha fish price varies according to the size of the fish. Two 2.5” Piranhas cost roughly $30 on average. According to experts, this is the best size for introducing Piranhas into an aquarium. Piranhas smaller than 2” can cost anywhere from ＄5 to ＄15.

Piranha Attacks

Piranhas, despite their reputation in the media for being exceedingly dangerous, rarely pose a severe threat to humans. However, attacks have occurred, particularly when piranhas are stressed, such as in dense groups that may form when the water level is low during the dry season and food is scarce. Because of the disturbance generated by battling fish and the availability of bait in the water, swimming near fishermen may enhance the risk of assault. Splashing attracts piranhas, therefore youngsters are more likely to be attacked than adults. Being in the water while injured or otherwise handicapped raises the chance of drowning. At high-risk regions, there are sometimes warning signs, and the beaches are sometimes protected by a barrier.

The majority of piranha attacks on humans result in minor injuries, most commonly to the feet or hands, but they can also be more serious and, in rare cases, fatal. In the first half of 2007, 190 piranha attacks were reported near the Brazilian city of Palmas, all involving single bites to the feet in an artificial lake that emerged after the damming of the Tocantins River. In 2009, a series of attacks in the Tietê River in the state of Sao Paulo resulted in 15 minor injuries. Another spate of attacks in 2011 in José de Freitas, Brazil's state of Piau, resulted in the treatment of 100 victims for bites to their toes or heels. More than 70 bathers were attacked on December 25, 2013, in Rosario, Argentina, with injuries to their hands and feet. In Rosario del Yota, Bolivia, in 2011, a drunk 18-year-old male was attacked and killed. A shoal of P. nattereri attacked and murdered a five-year-old Brazilian girl in 2012. When her grandmother's boat collapsed in Brazil in February 2015, a six-year-old girl died after being attacked by piranhas.

Piranha Eating Habits

Piranhas have a poor reputation as ferocious predators who tear flesh to bits if it dares to enter their waterways. This isn't entirely accurate. According to Smithsonian magazine, some piranhas are omnivores, eating more seeds than flesh. Vegetarian species exist. According to the Smithsonian, a species named Tometes camunani, which was identified in 2013 thrives on river weeds. Shrimp, crustaceans, worms, carrion, and other fish are eaten by other species. Human attacks are quite infrequent.

According to the Animal Diversity Web, the red-bellied piranha is one of the more dangerous and violent piranha species. When red-bellied piranhas are feeding normally, they spread out and a scout signals when a food source is discovered. Piranhas are incredibly tidy when they are alerted. Some of the fish may bite and then move away to allow another fish to bite. According to the Smithsonian, a single red-bellied piranha can consume 2.46 grammes of food each day, or about one-eighth of its body mass.

Wimpel piranhas (Catoprion mento) are cunning little creatures. They've been seen swimming fast toward prey and biting hard when they collide. According to Seriously Fish, they will pluck parts of fins and scales from other fish to survive.

Types of Piranha

1. Black Piranha

The term "black piranha" can apply to one of two piranha species:

a. Redeye Piranha-The redeye piranha (Serrasalmus rhombeus) is a freshwater ray-finned fish that belongs to the Serrasalmidae family. It is also known as the black piranha, white piranha, spotted piranha, or yellow piranha. Its native territory is northern South America. It is the genus Serrasalmus' type species.

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Classification-

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Actinopterygii

Order: Characiformes

Family: Serrasalmidae

Genus: Serrasalmus

Species: S. rhombeus

b. Speckled Piranha-Rio Guapore, Bobota, Mato Grosso, Brazil was the first place where this species was described. Jegu 2001, on the other hand, considers populations of S. spilopleura to be widespread, based on the distribution shown below. According to Hubert et al. 2007, 2010, spilopleura is only found in Bolivia due to a misidentification of S. spilopleura and S. eigenmanni by Jegu and colleagues in 2001.

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Classification-

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Actinopterygii

Order: Characiformes

Family: Serrasalmidae

Genus: Serrasalmus

Species: S. spilopleura

2. Red Piranha

The red-bellied piranha (Pygocentrus nattereri), also known as the Red Piranha, is a South American piranha species found in the Amazon, Paraguay, Paraná, and Essequibo basins, as well as coastal rivers in northeastern Brazil. This fish can be found in abundance in its native watery habitat. They eat insects, worms, crustaceans, and fish and are omnivorous foragers. They are not a migratory species, but they do travel during periods of heavy rainfall to find breeding and spawning conditions. As a predatory defence, red-bellied piranhas frequently migrate in shoals, although they rarely engage in group hunting behaviour. Acoustic communication is prevalent, and it can occur in conjunction with aggressive conduct. The red-bellied piranha has established a reputation as a ferocious predator due to media influence, however, this is not the truth. They're a well-liked aquarium fish.

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Classification-

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Actinopterygii

Order: Characiformes

Family: Serrasalmidae

Genus: Pygocentrus

Species: P. nattereri

3. Lobetooth Piranha

Pygopristis denticulata (Lobetoothed Piranha) is a bony fish species belonging to the Serrasalmidae family. Freshwater habitat is related to them. Individuals can reach a height of 21.5 cm. They can reproduce sexually.

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4. San Francisco Piranha

Pygocentrus piraya, sometimes known as the piraya piranha or San Francisco piranha, and occasionally marketed as the man-eating piranha, is a huge, aggressive piranha that originates in Brazil's So Francisco River basin.

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Classification-

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Actinopterygii

Order: Characiformes

Family: Serrasalmidae

Genus: Pygocentrus

Species: P. piraya

5. Wimple Piranha

Catoprion mento, often known as the wimple piranha, is a specialised South American piranha that feeds on fish scales. There is disagreement about whether or not this species is a real piranha. If it were considered a legitimate piranha, it would be the world's tiniest species.

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Classification-

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Actinopterygii

Order: Characiformes

Family: Serrasalmidae

Tribe: Piranha

Genus: Catoprion

Species: C. mento