Red-Bellied Piranha

May 26, 2011

The piranha hunts in packs of 20-30.

Red-Bellied Piranha

Design

These creatures hunt in packs of 20–30. They will either hide in vegetation and ambush prey, or they will chase after their prey. This hunting technique became part of the fish’s instinct after the Fall.

Features

  • The coloring of this fish changes as it grows.
  • Typically, this piranha is reddish-orange along its belly and silver along the top of its body.
  • It has broad, serrated, razor-sharp teeth.

Fun Facts

  • The red-bellied piranha places its eggs in a nest.
  • The danger of this piranha to humans is highly exaggerated since it hardly ever attacks humans.
  • Tooth loss and replacement on alternating sides of the jaw allow the piranha to continue eating.

CLASS: Osteichthyes (bony fishes)
ORDER: Characiformes (leporins and piranhas)
FAMILY: Characidae (American characins, characins, and tetras)
GENUS/SPECIES: Pygocentrus nattereri

Size: Up to 18 in (45 cm)
Diet: Insects, worms, fish, and plants
Habitat: Whitewater rivers of South America

Read More Articles

Previous

Queen Parrotfish

Next

Reef Stonefish

Footer
© 2025 Answers in Genesis