![]() These fish have not been domesticated in any way. They have been kept in aquariums, but they are illegal in a number of places due to the risk of them being released into the wild. These fish are quite popular as food in South America, both historically and currently. Swimming near fishermen, with lots of splashing, and in areas where prey is scarce or population density is very high, can increase risk of attacks. Most bites are minor injuries on the feet, legs, and hands but fatalities have occurred. Piranha and Human InteractionĪttacks on humans are uncommon, but they do occur. ![]() They will also feed on fruits, berries, vegetables, seeds, and decaying plant matter. Their primary source of food is fish, including their own species, followed by small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, carrion, and crustaceans. Depending on the species, some will feed more frequently on vegetation, while others only occasionally eat aquatic plants. Surprisingly, these creatures are considered omnivorous. Some species, like the red-bellied, are present in a number of rivers rather than a single river or tributary. The Amazon River has the most species, followed by the Orinoco. The greatest volume of species can be found in the Amazon River and its tributaries, the Orinoco River, Sao Francisco River, Parana River, and the rivers of Guiana.įor the most part, a single species will be restricted to one river system. Distribution of the PiranhaĪll piranha species are located in South America. Certain species prefer clear waters, while others inhabit more murky environments. Some common habitats include streams, tributaries, creeks, lakes, rivers, wetlands, and flooded areas. They are found in a wide variety of freshwater habitats, and each differs depending on the species. These fish are found exclusively in freshwater environments. There are a number of cichlid and other freshwater fish species that also feed on fish scales. The pike piranha is a lepidophagous, which means that they eat the scales and fins of other fish. Scale Snacks – Some species have very specific feeding habits.It is more common for children to be bitten, because they splash considerably more when swimming. The vast majority of bites are minor injuries, though there have been fatalities. Pain in the Foot – Instances of piranha attacks are almost always bites on the feet and legs.People who are splashing are much more likely to be attacked. Most attacks happen when the fish are in very dense populations and prey is scarce. When Fish Attack – There are attacks, but they occur much less frequently than the media would have you believe.Relative to body mass one species, the black piranha, has the strongest bite of all vertebrates. They are well adapted to biting, and actually have the strongest bite strength of any bony fish. Bite Power – Don’t get it wrong, these fish are incredibly well equipped for tearing apart prey.Perhaps best known for their ability to rip apart prey in minutes, schools of piranhas rarely behave so viciously. Multiple movie and television appearances have given these fish quite the ominous reputation. Each species is slightly different, and they can vary in size from 5 – 20 inches long. Piranhas have specialized teeth that are tightly packed, interlocking, and on a single row on both the upper and lower jaw. ![]() On second thought, perhaps not the easiest way, but definitely the most efficient! The easiest way to differentiate piranhas from their close relatives (pacus, silver dollars) is by looking at their teeth.
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