Piranha

Piranha, also caribe, any of several species of freshwater fishes of South America. Although the carnivorous species are the best known, most species are herbivorous. Piranhas are compressed, oval-shaped, fine-scaled fishes 25 to 60 cm (10 to 24 in) long. Carnivorous species have blunt heads and powerful jaws with sharp, wedge-shaped teeth that mesh like cutting shears and enable the fishes to cut the flesh from prey, which consists mostly of other fishes but also includes amphibians, birds, and mammals. Carnivorous piranhas associate in large schools and are attracted by commotion and the scent of blood. Once aroused, they can quickly reduce a large mammal to a skeleton, although such incidents are rare. About four species are considered dangerous. Piranhas are also scavengers, and they are considered fine food fishes.

Scientific classification: Piranhas belong to the family Characidae of the order Characiformes. They make up the genera Pygopristis, Pygocentris, Pristobrycon, and Serrasalmus.

There are at least two dozen species of South American tropical rain forest fish that are grouped together under the name of piranha. Ranging in size from under 15 cm (6 in) to nearly 60 cm (24 in), the piranha is perhaps the most feared of all fish in the rain forest due to the razor-sharp teeth along the leading edge of both jaws. Although some species are strictly carnivorous, not all are considered dangerous to man.

The piranha is native to freshwater rivers of South America. Some species travel in schools, enabling them to attack and quickly devour animals many times their size using their sharp, scissorlike teeth. However, attacks on large mammals are rare; carnivorous piranha feed primarily on other fish. Some species of piranha are omnivorous, eating both flesh and vegetation, and others are scavengers. Among the 30 known species of piranha, the red piranha, Serrasalmus nattereri, is among those considered most dangerous to livestock and humans.

They inhabit freshwater streams in Central America and South America. These awesome predators eat mostly other fish but may attack anything that falls into the water, attracted to their prey by the smell of blood. Using powerful upturned jaws and razor-sharp teeth, they can instantly slice a bite of flesh from a carcass. A school of piranha can strip a 45-kilogram (99-pound) animal to the bone in less than a minute. Adults grow to 30 centimeters (12 inches) long and are considered excellent food fish for humans.

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