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piranha (pi-RAH-nuh, pi-RA-nuh, pi-RAH-nyuh) - n., any of several omnivorous South American freshwater fish of subfamily Serrasalminae, especially genera Serrasalmus and Pygocentrus with very sharp teeth and a strong bite.
The best known being the red-bellied piranha (Pygocentrus nattereri), which is sometimes kept as an aquarium fish:
Thanks, WikiMedia!
Diet consists largely of fish, but most species will also opportunistically eat plants/fruit/animals that enter the water. Reports of schools of piranhas attacking cattle and humans are greatly exaggerated, but they do happen. (That they are attracted to blood in the water is outright myth.) The exact number of species is still being worked out (complicated by new species being described every so often) but appears to be between 30 and 60. The name is via Portuguese piranha (or possibly Spanish piraña) from Old Tupi pirã́nʸa/pirãîa, literally "fish (with) teeth." Which, fair.
---L.
The best known being the red-bellied piranha (Pygocentrus nattereri), which is sometimes kept as an aquarium fish:
Thanks, WikiMedia!
Diet consists largely of fish, but most species will also opportunistically eat plants/fruit/animals that enter the water. Reports of schools of piranhas attacking cattle and humans are greatly exaggerated, but they do happen. (That they are attracted to blood in the water is outright myth.) The exact number of species is still being worked out (complicated by new species being described every so often) but appears to be between 30 and 60. The name is via Portuguese piranha (or possibly Spanish piraña) from Old Tupi pirã́nʸa/pirãîa, literally "fish (with) teeth." Which, fair.
---L.
