Piranhas
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Scientific Name
Characidae family - Visit ITIS for full scientific classification.
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Description
Red bellied Piranha. Photo by Gregory Moine. (commons.wikipedia.org)- Freshwater fish with laterally compressed bodies.
- Their lower jaws stick out farther than their upper jaws, and both jaws are lined with a single row of sharp teeth.
- Color and size vary widely between the different species, but Piranhas typically grow to about 12 inches and up to 2 pounds.
- Popular aquarium fishes.
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Habitat
- Found in murky waters of tropical rivers and streams.
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Invasion Pathways and Distribution
- Native range is within tropical America.
- No established populations in the U.S., although there have been multiple reports of Piranhas in California within the past 30 years, most likely due to aquarium releases.
- See USGS for current distributions.
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Life History
- Little is known about the reproductive behavior of Piranhas in the wild.
- Mating usually starts at the beginning of the rainy season.
- Piranhas swim in circles to attract mates, both parents guard the eggs until they hatch, and the young fish live near vegetation until they mature.
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Impacts
- Piranhas are aggressive predators that feed on a wide variety of animals.
- They have few natural predators, and if introduced they have the potential to deplete native populations by consuming and outcompeting natives for resources.
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References and Useful Links
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