Red Piranha
| Class: Fishes: 4
classes |
Diet: Fish |
| Order:
Cypriniformes: Carps |
| Size: up
to 30.5 cm (12 in) |
| Family: No Fish family
information |
Conservation Status:
Non-threatened |
| Scientific Name:
Serrasalmus nattereri |
Habitat: rivers |
| Range:
Northern South America: Amazon basin |
 One
of the carnivorous members of the family Characidae, the red piranha is
not a large fish but swims in such large shoals that, together, the fishes
form a formidable hunting group. They are armed with strong jaws and razor-sharp
triangular teeth, which can chop pieces of flesh from a victim with alarming
efficiency. Despite their very blood-thirsty reputation, carnivorous piranhas
feed largely on fish and on seeds and fruit but will attack larger, usually
wounded animals, which they quickly devour by their combined efforts.
  
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