Although indigenous to the Amazon basin, Piranha are widely distributed throughout it. There are many different types of waterways and natural habitats, in many different countries. So where do Piranha preferentially reside? In short, all the water types, from river and lakes to creeks and floodplains contain Piranha. It is a hardy and widespread species. […]
With the Piranha being considered a dangerous fish, an interesting question arises. How would you go about crossing a section of water, known to contain Piranha fish? Is it possible and can you do it safely? In short, you can yes. While nothing is guaranteed, there is a preferential strategy to make sure you make […]
Theodore Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States of America from 1901 -1909. As as well as being involved in politics he was also a naturalist and conversationalist. So how much evidence is there that Teddy Roosevelt started the Piranha mythology? In short, the Piranha got its reputation for ferocity and danger from […]
Recently discovered is the fact the the Piranha barks. Much the same as other animals it is a sound recognized by other fish that conveys meaning and warning in equal measure. So what is the Piranha trying to do when it barks. In short, it’s been discovered that the Piranha emit 3 distinct sounds in […]
With razor sharp teeth and Hollywood scriptwriters doing the rest the Piranha has a reputation of vicious and bloodthirsty killer. Apparently it devours anything that touches the water and leaves nothing but the bones. But is this true? Are they as dangerous as they are portrayed or have they been besmirched? In short, while not […]
With somewhere around 30 to 60 species reckoned to fit under the name ‘Piranha’ it’s fair to conclude their might be some variability in size. Whether in captivity or swimming in the Amazon also makes a difference, but what sizes do Piranha range from? In short, despite the fact that there are some small species […]
Ask most people to describe a Piranha and almost without exception you hear the words ‘ferocious’, ‘bloodthirsty; and ‘teeth’. Almost everyone seems to know that the Piranha possess a set of very sharp teeth, the images of which no doubt help with their reputation. The truth is a little more interesting. In short, the teeth […]
Whilst most people when thinking of Piranha think of it as a predator, it’s important to realise that it isn’t the only Predator in the amazon water. Many animals swim around the rivers that see the Piranha as a tasty meal. So what animals does the Piranha have to be wary of? In short, while […]
With their reputation as a bloodthirsty and aggressive fish it’s easy to think of Piranhas as pack hunting predators constantly scouring the water for a meal. The truth, it turns out, is a little different. In short the Piranha is far from a bloodthirsty monster portrayed in the films. They are scavengers, and swim in […]
To take your information from Hollywood, you would think that Piranhas are just pack hunters, permanently hungry and roaming around looking for a meal to attack. In short, most Piranhas are omnivores and eat both meat and fruits, as well as seeds, insects, fish and plant matter. There are a few species that are more […]
