Piranha

Piranha
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Characiformes Family: Characidae Genera: Serrasalmus, Pristobrycon, and 5 others
Species
Catoprion mento Citharinus citharus citharus Metynnis maculatus Pristobrycon aureus Pristobrycon aureus Pristobrycon calmoni Pristobrycon calmoni Pristobrycon calmoni Pristobrycon striolatus Pristobrycon striolatus Pygocentrus cariba Pygocentrus cariba Pygocentrus nattereri Pygocentrus piraya Pygopristis denticulata Pygopristis denticulata Serrasalmus altispinis Serrasalmus altuvei Serrasalmus brandti Serrasalmus compressus Serrasalmus eigenmanni Serrasalmus elongatus Serrasalmus elongatus Serrasalmus geryi Serrasalmus gibbus Serrasalmus gouldingi Serrasalmus hastatus Serrasalmus hollandi Serrasalmus humeralis Serrasalmus humeralis Serrasalmus irritans Serrasalmus irritans Serrasalmus maculatus Serrasalmus maculatus Serrasalmus manueli Serrasalmus marginatus Serrasalmus medinai Serrasalmus medinai Serrasalmus medinai Serrasalmus nalseni Serrasalmus neveriensis Serrasalmus nigricans Serrasalmus rhombeus Serrasalmus rhombeus Serrasalmus rhombeus Serrasalmus rhombeus Serrasalmus sanchezi Serrasalmus serrulatus Serrasalmus spilopleura Ref: FishBase 2004-03-24

The piranha or piraña (pronounced (in SAMPA) /p^hir\`an'j@/ (or /p<sup>h</sup>r\`an'j@), /p^hir\`a'J@/, or /p<sup>h</sup>ir\`an'@/) is a carnivorous freshwater fish living in South American rivers. It belongs to the family of serrasalmus. They are about 15 to 25 cm long (6 to 10 inches) long, and known for their sharp teeth and an aggressive appetite for meat.

The name 'piranha' may come from a hybrid language composed of Tupi-Guarani languages; it may be a compound word made of the components 'pirá', meaning 'fish', and 'sanha' or 'ranha', meaning 'tooth'. Alternately, it may come from Tupi 'pirá' ('fish') and 'ánha' ('cut').

in the Maroni river in French Guyana a large kind, weighing up to five kilograms, can be found; it seems to be an herbivore. This species hosts colonies of worms in its stomach.

External links

• http://www.sysf.physto.se/~klere/piranha/
• http://www.angelfire.com/biz/piranha038/About_the_Genera.html

References

• "Characidae." ITIS Standard Report. (Integrated Taxonomic Information System: National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., 2004-10-13). URL: ITIS 162848
• "Family Characidae - Characins." FishBase. ed. Froese, R. and D. Pauly (08/2004), URL: Characidae