A piranha (/ pɪˈrɑːnjəˌ - ræn /, or / pɪˈrɑːnə /; Portuguese: [piˈɾɐ̃ɲɐ]) is any of a number of freshwater fish species in the subfamily Serrasalminae, of the family Serrasalmidae, [1] in the order Characiformes. …

Nov 21, 2025 · piranha, any of more than 60 species of razor-toothed carnivorous fish of South American rivers and lakes, with a somewhat exaggerated reputation for ferocity. In movies such as …

Apr 8, 2025 · Take piranha fish, a toothy South American freshwater fish that has been the subject of not one, not two, but five Hollywood horror movies. Sure, they've got big teeth, but are piranhas really as …

Jul 8, 2014 · Today, piranhas inhabit the freshwaters of South America from the Orinoco River Basin in Venezuela up to the Paraná River in Argentina. Though estimates vary, around 30 species inhabit …

Enter the world of these small but feisty carnivorous fish and learn about the various types of piranha and their distinct characteristics.

Aug 7, 2025 · Piranha is the common name for various species of fish within the family Serrasalmidae or the subfamily Serrasalminae that are also in the tetra family Characidae of the Characiformes order.

There are several dozen species of piranha. These creatures have lived in South America for nearly 2 million years – and their ancestors are thought to have inhabited South America rivers for as much …

Jun 12, 2025 · Fishermen often catch them for food or trade, and some communities even engage in piranha fishing tourism. While piranhas can be dangerous, attacks are rare and usually provoked.

Deep laterally compressed bodies are generally silvery or golden in color, with a short adipose fin, jaws with a single row of sharp tricuspid sheering teeth and no molars. Other characids look somewhat …

Aug 23, 2025 · There are numerous species of piranha, such as the red-bellied piranha and the black piranha. Each species has distinct characteristics and adaptations suited to its specific habitat.