Piranha: Learn about the piranha

Learn about the piranha, a ferocious freshwater fish with razor sharp teeth and powerful jaws. Find out how many species there are, what they eat, where they live, and why they are not as dangerous as they seem. 14 Fun Facts About Piranhas They’re not cute and cuddly, but they may be misunderstood, and scientists are rewriting the fish’s fearsome stereotype Learn about the different species, diets and vocalizations of piranha fish, a toothy South American freshwater fish that has been the subject of Hollywood horror movies. Find out why piranhas are not as ferocious as their reputation and how they interact with other animals in the Amazon. Piranha, or piraña, is the common name for various South American, freshwater, tropical fish of the order Charciformes known for their pointed, razor-sharp teeth in a pronounced underbite and an aggressive appetite for meat and flesh. Traditionally, piranhas have been classified together with the pacus and silver dollars (Metynnis sp.) in the Serrasalminae subfamily of the characin family (Characidae) (Nelson 1994). However, some recent taxonomies place these three groups in their own ...