Surely many of us watched the famous movie whose main hero was the piranha fish, and we saw how these predatory fish were very gluttonous for human flesh and blood, and how they were very
fierce and predatory and waited for a person to descend into the water to pounce on him with all force and ferocity to cut him into small pieces and devour him completely, but Is this really the truth, is the piranha
fish looking for meat and humans with such force and ferocity, or is it an innovative cinematic idea like the one that was talking about sharks that almost
appear to us in our dreams to prey on us to learn more about the truth and know the true behavior of these fish.
Piranha size and shape
The coloration of these fish varies in different species, for example, the red-bellied piranha is gray with white spots
and a red belly, and the black piranha is monochromatic from gray to almost black with distinctive red eyes.
Usually between six and 13 inches, but some species can be up to two feet long.
The fish usually weighs no more than 6.6 pounds. It has a pronounced jaw shape with large jaw muscles attached to the tip of the jaw, which makes it slightly prominent.
The teeth of this fish are sharp and serrated. Which makes them very adept at shredding meat quickly.
Some piranhas have been found that reach a length of approximately 80 centimeters, and the colors of the piranha range from yellow to bluish-gray or to partially red almost black, and the piranha
has a face that resembles a bulldog with a very large lower jaw and many sharp teeth It is very interesting that the teeth are replaceable when they are broken, so a
new one grows in its place, and all predatory piranhas have one row of sharp teeth in each of the jaws, and their teeth are tightly packed and interlocked by small bumps.
Where to find piranha fish
Piranhas are generally found in fast flowing rivers and streams where there is a lot of food that this predatory fish eats.
Piranhas are an important component of their local habitat, although Although largely confined to low waters only, this fish is widely distributed and inhabits various habitats within continental running waters.
Piranhas are freshwater fish that are native to the Amazon basin, and some species have been discovered in Bangladesh, China and even the United States, but these species are generally fleeing from exotic fish
dealers, and many species are found only in one river system while others exist, such as the piranha with Red-bellied in many South American river systems,
some species like slow-moving murky waters and are often found in very shallow waters, however, other species prefer deep river channels.
Piranha fish are widespread and not threatened with extinction, and small fish are active mainly during the day, and large and medium-sized fish are
active during several periods including dawn, afternoon, and night, and there are only small commercial fisheries for these fish as well as sport fishing, and some species are used as pond fish
They are fish, but they are illegal in many areas as pets, and fishermen consider them a nuisance because they often steal bait and damage fishing gear.
Piranhas and humans
There are many reports about piranhas biting humans, which say that these fish are dangerous in an exaggerated way, and while many humans fear these fish, there are thousands of citizens
swimming in the same water bodies with these fish without being harmed. Unfortunately, the stories of these predatory fish say that they can turn people into
skeletons within seconds, but all of them are exaggerations that people have been repeating over the years in movies, as there are no documented reports of a person killed in a piranha attack.
Local people used piranha teeth in their tools and weapons. Piranha fish is also a popular food in some non-Muslim countries.
It is usually eaten by fishermen, and is often sold as food in local markets.
Believe it or not, there are people who keep piranhas as pets, but they are actually not good pets in
the traditional sense of the word, and piranha owners need to be very careful because piranhas have sharp teeth and an aggressive nature, but as long as
you choose to breed them As a pet, you must take responsibility and handle these fish carefully with good care.
Piranha prey
Most piranha species are opportunistic predators, and they will eat almost anything from plant life to other fish, insects, carrion, worms, etc. Some species are adept at eating and feeding primarily by nibbling the scales or fins of other fish.
This is more common with smaller fish and species Smaller, the piranha also digs a lot.