A piranha (/ pɪˈrɑːnjəˌ - ræn /, or / pɪˈrɑːnə /; Portuguese: [piˈɾɐ̃ɲɐ]) is any of a number of freshwater fish species in the subfamily Serrasalminae, of the family Serrasalmidae, [1] in the order Characiformes. These fish inhabit South American rivers, floodplains, lakes and reservoirs. ⚠️ EDUCATIONAL AND BIOLOGICAL STUDY: This video is intended solely for scientific and educational observation of natural predator-prey dynamics. Viewer discr... Modern-day piranhas reach 17 inches long. Their prehistoric ancestors were 3 feet long! The exact number of species is unknown, but there are thought to be 30 to 60 or more. The most infamous species is the red-bellied piranha, which lives in South America and is primarily found in the Amazon River along with several other piranha species. 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 ...
