Piranha 301394 223686526 2008-07-05T07:25:07Z MidgleyDJ 556187 /* External links */ remove spam. {{Otheruses}} {{Taxobox | name = Piranha | image = Piranha1.jpg | image_width = 250px | image_caption = | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]] | classis = [[Actinopterygii]] | ordo = [[Characiformes]] | familia = [[Serrasalmidae]] | familia_authority = Géry, 1972 | subdivision_ranks = [[Genus|Genera]] | subdivision = ''[[Catoprion]]''<br> ''[[Pristobrycon]]''<br> ''[[Pygocentrus]]''<br> ''[[Pygopristis]]''<br> ''[[Serrasalmus]]'' }} A '''Piranha''' or '''piraña''' ({{pronEng|pɨˈrɑːnjə/, /pɨˈrænjə/, /pɨˈrɑːnə}}, or {{IPA|/pɨˈrænə/}}) is a member of a family of [[omnivorous]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6259946.stm |title=Piranha 'less deadly than feared' |accessdate=2007-07-02 |author=[[BBC News Online]] |date=2007-07-02}}</ref> [[freshwater]] [[fish]] which live in [[South American]] [[river]]s. In [[Venezuela]]n rivers they are called '''caribes'''. They are known for their sharp [[tooth|teeth]] and an aggressive appetite for [[meat]]. However, despite the negative Hollywood publicity piranhas are not generally violent, and have been known to be domesticated in home and office fish tanks. ==Etymology== The name ''piranha'' may come from a hybrid [[language]] composed of [[Tupi-Guarani]] languages;{{Clarifyme|date=March 2008}} it may be a compound word made of the components ''pirá'', meaning 'fish', and ''sanha'' or ''ranha'', meaning '[[tooth]]'. In Tupi, [[Possession (linguistics)|inalienably possessed]] nouns take the prefix ''t-'', ''s-'', or ''r-'' depending on the possessor, or zero in combination; thus ''pirá'' + ''anha''. Alternatively, it may come from [[Tupi languages|Tupi]] ''pirá'' (fish) and ''ánha'' (devil).{{Fact|date=July 2007}} ==Taxonomy== Piranhas belong to the [[family (biology)|family]] of [[Serrasalmidae]] (though some scientists still classify them in the family Characidae which also includes closely related herbivorous fish including [[pacu (fish)|pacu]]s).<ref name="Freeman">{{cite journal|url=http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2007f/zt01484p038.pdf|title=Molecular systematics of Serrasalmidae: Deciphering the identities of piranha species and unraveling their evolutionary histories|first=Barbie|last=Freeman|coauthors=Nico, Leo G.; Osentoski, Matthew; Jelks, Howard L.; Collins, Timothy M.|journal=[[Zootaxa]]|volume=1484|pages=1-38|year=2007|format=[[PDF]]}}</ref> Traditionally, only the four genera ''[[Pristobrycon]]'', ''[[Pygocentrus]]'', ''[[Pygopristis]]'', and ''[[Serrasalmus]]'' are considered to be true piranhas, due to their specialized teeth. However, a recent analysis showed that, if the piranha group is to be [[monophyly|monophyletic]], it should be restricted to ''Serrasalmus'', ''Pygocentrus'', and part of ''Pristobrycon'', or expanded to include these taxa plus ''Pygopristis'', ''Catoprion'', and ''Pristobrycon striolatus''. ''Pygopristis'' was found to be more closely related to ''Catoprion'' than the other three piranha genera.<ref name="Freeman"/> The total number of piranha species is not known and new species continue to be described. In 1988, it was stated that fewer than a half of the approximately 60 nominal species of piranhas at the time were valid. More recently in 2003, one author recognized a total of 38 or 39 species, although the validity of some taxa remains questionable.<ref name="Freeman"/> ==Distribution== Piranhas are found only in the [[Amazon River|Amazon]] basin, in the [[Orinoco]], in rivers of the [[Guyana]]s, in the [[Paraguay River|Paraguay]]-[[Paraná River|Paraná]], and in the [[São Francisco River]] systems; some species of piranha have extremely broad geographic ranges, occurring in more than one of the major basins mentioned above, whereas others appear to have much more limited distributions.<ref name="Freeman"/> However, piranha (inevitably former aquarium-dwellers) have been introduced into parts of the United States, even being occasionally found in the [[Potomac River]], but they typically do not survive the cold winters of that region.<ref>Fahrenthold, David A.: [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/28/AR2005052801079_pf.html In River of Many Aliens, Snakehead Looms as Threat], The Washington Post, May 29, 2005.</ref> Recently a piranha was caught by a fisherman in the [[Catawba River]] in [[North Carolina]]. <ref>The Associated Press [http://www.usatoday.com/news/offbeat/2007-07-04-piranha_N.htm Piranha caught in N.C. river] USA Today, 2007-07-04</ref> This is the first known case in North Carolina and possibly in the region.<ref>WNCN-TV [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19585612 Fisherman Catches Piranha In N.C. River] MSNBC, nbc17.com</ref> Piranha have also been discovered in the [[Kaptai Lake]] in South-East [[Bangladesh]]. Research is being carried out to establish how piranha have moved to such distant corners of the world from their original habitat. It is anticipated that rogue exotic fish traders have released them in the lake to avoid being caught by anti-poaching forces.<ref>[http://www.prothom-alo.com/mcat.news.details.php?nid=Nzg3MTA=&mid=Ng==] Prothom-alo</ref> == Description == [[Image:Piranha.jaw.jpg|thumb|250px|Jawbone of ''[[Pygocentrus nattereri]]'']] Piranhas are normally about 15 to 25 [[centimetre|cm]] long (6 to 10 [[inch]]es), although reportedly individuals have been found up to 41 [[centimetre|cm]] (16.4 inches) in length.<ref>[http://www.pueblozoo.org/archives/sep01/feature.htm Pueblo Zoo Grant's Zebra<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ''Serrasalmus'', ''Pristobrycon'', ''Pygocentrus'', and ''Pygopristis'' are most easily recognized by their unique dentition. All piranhas have a single row of sharp teeth in both jaws; the teeth are tightly packed and interlocking (via small [[cusp (dentistry)|cusps]]) and used for rapid puncture and shearing. Individual teeth are typically broadly triangular, pointed, and blade-like (flat in profile). There is minor variation in the number of cusps; in most species the teeth are tricuspid with a larger middle cusp that makes the individual teeth appear markedly triangular. The exception is ''Pygopristis'', which has pentacuspid teeth and a middle cusp that is usually only slightly larger than the other cusps. In the scale-eating ''[[Catoprion]]'', the shape of their teeth is markedly different and the [[premaxilla]]ry teeth are in two rows, as in most other serrasalmines.<ref name="Freeman"/> ==Ecology== Ecologically, piranhas are important components of their native environments. Although largely restricted to lowland drainages, these fishes are widespread and inhabit diverse habitats within both [[lotic]] and [[lentic]] environments. Some piranha species are abundant locally and multiple species often occur together.<ref name="Freeman"/> As both [[predator]]s and [[scavenger]]s, piranhas influence the local distribution and composition of fish assemblages.<ref name="Freeman"/> Certain piranha species consume large quantities of seeds, but unlike the related ''[[Colossoma]]'' and ''[[Piaractus]]'', herbivorous piranhas thoroughly masticate and destroy all seeds eaten and consequently do not function as dispersers.<ref name="Freeman"/> The piranha is renownedly portrayed and known as a vicious species of fish hunting in large schools. This conception was created from the past belief that piranhas created schools for hunting purposes. Recent research, however, suggests that this is actually used as a defense mechanism against the piranha's natural predators, such as [[river dolphin]]s, [[caiman]]s and giant [[pirarucu]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070701/sc_nm/piranhas_dc |title=Vicious Piranhas are really wimps |accessdate=2007-07-05 |author=Yahoo News Online}}</ref> Research on the species ''Serrasalmus aff. brandtii'' and ''Pygocentrus nattereri'' in Viana Lake, which is formed during the wet season when the [[Rio Pindare]] (a tributary of the Rio Mearim) floods, has shown that these species eat vegetable matter at some stages in their life; they are not strictly carnivorous fish.<ref>[http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/item.php?news=695 Piranhas not strictly carnivorous, says study]</ref> ==Relationship to humans== [[Image:Peru - PiranhaFishing.jpg|thumb|right|280px|Fishing piranha on the [[Ucayali]] river.]] Locals often use piranha teeth to make tools and weapons. Piranha are also a popular food, though if an individual is caught on a hook or line it may be attacked by other piranhas. Piranha are commonly consumed by subsistence fishermen and often sold for food in local markets.<ref name="Freeman"/> In recent decades, dried specimens have been marketed as tourist [[souvenir]]s.<ref name="Freeman"/> Piranhas occasionally bite and sometimes injure bathers and swimmers, but truly serious attacks are rare and the threat to humans has been largely exaggerated.<ref name="Freeman"/> A piranha bite is sometimes considered more an act of carelessness than that of misfortune.{{huh}} But piranhas are a considerable nuisance to commercial and sport fishers because they steal [[bait]], mutilate catch, damage nets and other gear, and may bite when handled.<ref name="Freeman"/> Several piranha species appear in the [[aquarium]] trade.<ref name="Freeman"/> Piranhas can be bought as pets in some areas, but they are illegal in much of the [[United States]], such as in [[Washington|Washington State]], [[New York]], [[Utah]], [[Nevada]], and all Southern states from the [[US West Coast|West Coast]] ([[California]]) to the East ([[Florida]]), and up the [[northeastern US|Northeastern]] seaboard.<ref>http://www.angelfire.com/biz/piranha038/images/Prohib_P.jpg</ref> The most common piranha is the ''Pygocentrus nattereri'', or the red-bellied piranha. Piranhas can be bought fully grown or as babies, often no bigger than a thumbnail. It is important to keep ''Pygocentrus'' piranhas alone or in groups of three or more, not in pairs, since aggression among them is common and is distributed more widely when kept in larger groups, allowing the weaker fish to survive. When kept in groups, it is recommended that they are in even-numbered groups, as piranhas will gang up on an odd member. It is not rare to find individuals with one eye missing due to a previous attack. The preferred feeds are thawed shrimp, fillets of white fish, and disease free feeders, but any fish-based foods are adequate. The young are to be fed very little, as overfeeding can kill them. Blood worms, or insect larvae are a good choice of food, as they are full of protein. If underfed, piranhas are likely to become cannibalistic on others in their group. They eat more as they grow older and larger. In order to provide a balanced diet, it is usually necessary to change types of food often. [[Feeder fish|Feeder]] [[goldfish]] are a popular choice for feeding piranhas, although they contain a [[vitamin B]] inhibitor that may stunt growth and shorten the fish's life span. It is recommended to feed them with feeder goldfish as a treat, once in a while, rather than basing their diet only on that. Piranhas prefer a darker environment with a lot of plant cover, as they become agitated when denied appropriate cover. It is not advisable to leave the light on constantly, for with too much light, they may lose the desire to eat.{{Fact|date=July 2007}} ==References== {{reflist|2}} ==External links== * Eric J. Lyman: [http://www.ericjlyman.com/piranha.html Piranha meat could take a bite out of what ails you], Houston Chronicle, July 17, 1998 [[Category:Serrasalmidae]] [[Category:Fish of South America]] [[Category:Portuguese loanwords]] [[gn:Pirãi]] [[bg:Пираня]] [[ca:Piranya]] [[da:Piratfisk]] [[de:Piranhas]] [[es:Piraña]] [[fr:Piranha]] [[gd:Piranha]] [[ko:피라냐]] [[id:Piranha]] [[it:Piranha]] [[he:פיראניה]] [[lt:Piranijos]] [[ml:പിരാന]] [[nl:Piranha's]] [[ja:ピラニア]] [[no:Pirayaer]] [[pl:Pirania]] [[pt:Piranha]] [[fi:Piraijat]] [[sv:Pirayor]] [[th:ปลาปิรันยา]] [[vi:Cá răng đao]] [[tr:Pirana]] [[zh:食人鱼]]