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Found in rivers across central and south South America, east of the Andes, the red-bellied piranha favors white water streams where it swims in shoals. Its belly varies from red to orange to yellow, its top usually silvery. The fish usually feed in large schools around dusk and dawn, lurking until prey is locate by scent or motion, then closing the distance with a burst of speed.
The best known of the many species of piranha, the red-bellied piranha is famous, though somewhat less fierce than its man-eating reputation. In fact, the species is widely collected for amateur aquariums and has been introduced into waters of the United States by owners who were somewhat disappointed when the usually shy fish failed to live up to its reputation. Red-bellied piranha do, in fact, have razor-sharp triangular teeth designed to take bite-sized bites out of prey, but it normally eats fish, fruit, seeds, and aquatic invertebrates. However, schools will sometimes converge on large animals like anacondas, caimans, birds, and terrestrial mammals, stripping their bodies clean in a matter of minutes. Aquarium websites warn owners not to feed the fish by hand, lest they lose a finger to a full grown adult, which can be as long as 16” long.
Red-bellied piranha spawn in the rainy season around April and May. Females lay around 5,000 eggs on rocks or bottom vegetation in bowl-shaped nests. Males become extremely territorial during spawning and prevent other fish from approaching the nest. After the eggs hatch, both parents guard the brood.
Nature picture credits (left to right): Photo © Feng Yu (side view); Photo © Claus Meyer / Minden Pictures (Red-bellied Piranha; Amazon River; Brazil).
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