# 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. - **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Habitat:** Freshwater rivers and lakes ![Red-bellied piranha](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Pygocentrus_nattereri_Natural_History_Museum_University_of_Pisa.jpg&width=800) Photo: Mattia Nocciola, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pygocentrus_nattereri_Natural_History_Museum_University_of_Pisa.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Actinopterygii - **Order:** Characiformes - **Family:** Serrasalmidae - **Genus:** Pygocentrus ## 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 - **Razor Teeth:** Red-bellied piranha has razor-sharp, triangular teeth that helps them shear through flesh with surprising speed and efficiency. - **Schooling Strength:** Red-bellied piranha can swim in large schools because it helps them overwhelm prey and protect themselves from larger predators. - **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 - **Eaten by:** [Spectacled Caiman](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spectacled-caiman) (*Caiman crocodilus*) — Larger caimans actively prey on piranhas. - **Hunts:** [Guppy](https://www.snappit.app/explore/guppy) (*Poecilia reticulata*) — They ambush and consume various smaller fish species. - **Eats:** [Capybara](https://www.snappit.app/explore/capybara) (*Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris*) — They scavenge on deceased animals, cleaning the environment. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Ambush Predator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ambush-predator): An ambush predator hunts by patiently waiting and concealing itself, then launching a sudden attack when unsuspecting prey comes within range. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. ## Collections - [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish) ## Safety **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate Always watch from a safe distance and never try to touch or feed wild fish. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Red-bellied piranha? Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### 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 ## Where to spot - [Shedd Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/shedd-aquarium) — Illinois, US · Aquarium - [Downtown Aquarium, Houston](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/downtown-aquarium-houston) — Texas, US · Aquarium - [Oklahoma Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/oklahoma-aquarium) — Oklahoma, US · Zoo - [Downtown Aquarium, Denver](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/downtown-aquarium-denver) — Colorado, US · Aquarium - [Luisenpark Mannheim](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/luisenpark-mannheim) — Baden-Württemberg, DE · Park - [Zoo Wasserstern](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoo-wasserstern) — Bayern, DE · Zoo [View all places to see Red-bellied piranha](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/red-bellied-piranha) ## More Fish - [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) - [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) - [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*) - [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*) --- Source: [Red-bellied piranha: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-bellied-piranha)