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Red-bellied piranha

Pygocentrus nattereri

The red-bellied piranha is a colorful fish known for its bright red belly. They live in rivers and lakes in South America and are famous for their sharp teeth and strong jaws.

Habitat: Freshwater rivers and lakes

Appearance

The Red-bellied piranha is a stout, deep-bodied fish, typically silvery-grey with a distinctive reddish-orange patch on its belly and chin. It has a small, blunt snout and powerful jaws with sharp, triangular teeth, visually setting it apart from other fish.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassActinopterygiiOrderCharaciformesFamilySerrasalmidaeGenusPygocentrus
Red-bellied piranha
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Red-bellied piranha

Category

Fish

Rarity

Common

Danger

3/5 · Moderate

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Despite their fierce fame, they mostly act as river scavengers, cleaning up dead animals.

Piranhas have a surprisingly good sense of hearing, detecting splashes from far away.

Some Amazonian tribes use dried piranha jaws as handy tools or weapons, like scissors!

Their teeth are replaced individually throughout their life, always keeping them razor-sharp!

Special abilities

Ability

Razor Teeth

Red-bellied piranha has razor-sharp, triangular teeth that helps them shear through flesh with surprising speed and efficiency.

Ability

Schooling Strength

Red-bellied piranha can swim in large schools because it helps them overwhelm prey and protect themselves from larger predators.

Ability

Powerful Bite

Red-bellied piranha has extremely powerful jaw muscles because it allows them to deliver a strong, bone-crushing bite.

Measurements & details

Length
15-30 cm
Weight
0.2-0.5 kg
Lifespan
10-15 years
Swim Speed
20 km/h
Maximum Depth
10 m
Water Type
Freshwater

Diet & Feeding

These fierce fish primarily hunt other fish but will also scavenge and eat plants and insects.

Primary Foods

  • fish
  • insects
  • crustaceans
  • plant matter
  • carrion

Foraging Method

  • Ambush

Ecological connections

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

3/5 · Moderate

Always watch from a safe distance and never try to touch or feed wild fish.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is Red-bellied piranha?

15-30 cm

How much does Red-bellied piranha weigh?

0.2-0.5 kg

How long does Red-bellied piranha live?

10-15 years

What does Red-bellied piranha eat?

These fierce fish primarily hunt other fish but will also scavenge and eat plants and insects.

How fast can Red-bellied piranha swim?

20 km/h

Where is Red-bellied piranha usually found?

Freshwater rivers and lakes

How does Red-bellied piranha hunt?

Ambush

How deep can Red-bellied piranha go?

10 m

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