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Piranhas are South American Pisces with razor - sharp-worded tooth and a report for feed frenzies . In fact , marauder means " tooth fish " in the Brazilian lyric of the Tupi masses . However , not all piranha species have a taste for parentage ; some are vegetarian .
Many unlike Pisces the Fishes are called " predator , " but the number of coinage is a affair of debate , according to Piranha - Info . " New unknown species , regional varieties and vividness forms are discovered , and new and/or updated research data … is published on a fairly even foundation , " the website said . Based on current data , there are between 40 and 60 different species of vulture in 12 different scientific families . Two species , PygocentrusandSerrasalmus , are popular as aquarium fish , harmonise to Piranha - Info . The most usually known species isPygocentrus natterei , the red - bellied marauder .
The red-bellied piranha is considered the most aggressive species.
Size
Most piranhas do n’t get any bigger than 2 feet ( 60 centimeters ) long . For object lesson , the red - belly piranha and the piraya vulture grow to about 20 column inch ( 51 centimetre ) long , while the smutty spot predator grows to about 11 inches ( 28 cm ) , according toFishBase .
Habitat
All piranhas populate in South America in rivers and lake , and 20 different species are found in theAmazon River , concord toEncyclopedia Britannica .
Some piranha have been found around the universe , but these are thought to be positron emission tomography that were released into waterways . In some U.S. states , it is illegal to transport , purchase , possess or deal piranha ; other states necessitate permits , consort to theOregon Piranha alien Pisces the Fishes Exhibit(OPEFE ) .
Habits
Piranhas live in groups call a school . It is a pop impression that these fish travel in groups so that they can overwhelm fair game in a choreographed alimentation frenzy . Scientists , however , think they trip together as a form of auspices from predators , harmonise toNational Geographic . That ’s not to say that frenzies never pass . When imperil , the shoal will group together with other shoal to take down the predator .
Diet
Most piranhas get a bad rap as terrific predators that will shoot to shred any human body that dare cutpurse into its pee . This actually is n’t straight . Some piranhas are omnivorous and eat more seeds than essence , according toSmithsonian cartridge holder . Some species are vegetarian . A species discovered in 2013,Tometes camunani , for instance , lives on river weeds , grant to Smithsonian . Others species eat runt , crustacean , insect , carrion and other Pisces . Attacks on humans are very rare .
The red - belly out marauder is considered one of the more severe and strong-growing species of vulture , according to theAnimal Diversity Web . Generally , when red - belly out caribe are feed normally , the fish will spread out , and a scout will point when a solid food source is determine . When alerted , vulture are very orderly . Some of the fish will take a sting and then move aside so another Pisces can take a collation . Just one red - belly out vulture can eat around 2.46 grams per mean solar day , or around one - eighth its torso mass , according to theSmithsonian .
Wimpel piranhas ( Catoprion mento ) are very furtive . They have been observed swim very rapidly toward a target and biting heavily as they collide . They will nip bits of fins and scales from other Pisces to survive , fit in toSeriously Fish .
The piraya, or San Francisco piranha, grows to 20 inches (51 centimeters).
Offspring
Female piranhas lie M of eggs at a prison term in the George Sand below the H2O root where they populate . The red - bellied piranha female , for case , lays her eggs in a nest that is drudge by her fellow .
After the male person inseminate the eggs , they attach to plants at the bottom of the water supply source and hatch within just a few days . vulture live up to eight yr .
Classification/taxonomy
Here is the taxonomy information for the crimson - belly piranha and its cousin , harmonize to theIntegrated Taxonomic Information System(ITIS ) and Piranha - Info :
Kingdom : AnimaliaSubkingdom : BilateriaInfrakingdom : DeuterostomiaPhylum : ChordataSubphylum : VertebrataInfraphylum : GnathostomataSuperclass : OsteichthyesClass : ActinopterygiiSubclass : NeopterygiiInfraclass : TeleosteiSuperorder : OstariophysiOrder : CharaciformesFamily : CaricacidaeGenus : PygocentrusSpecies :
Conservation status
The piranha ’s conservation position has not been assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature . They are not currently considered endangered .
Other facts
flushed - belly piranhas bark to admonish predators to go forth them alone .
The piranha ’s top and bottom teeth work together like pair of scissors to trend up food . They fall back and regrow teeth , much like shark .
Theodore Roosevelt unfold a lot of scary data about these fish in his book , " Through the Brazilian Wilderness , " about his travels to South America in 1913 .
Piranhas have very strong jaws for clamp down on target . The black piranha has the strongest bite personnel put down for bony Pisces , harmonize to this2012 field by scientist Justin R. Grubich and his team .
Additional resources
