Despite their small dimensions and their innocent looking aspect, South American piranhas have a frightening reputation and they are known as the most wild and dangerous river fish.
Swimming in large group, they attack devour any animal standing in their way, leaving only the skeleton behind.
Piranhas have become legendary and not in a positive way.
All over South America there are stories about unfortunate swimmers that were attacked by large piranha groups and their flesh was torn to pieces.
According to a story that made sensation, an ingenious attack on a horse made both the horseman and the horse fall into the water.
All that was left behind were 2 skeletons and the man's clothes which were intact.
Most stories speak of a red belly piranha fish, one of the 4 species of piranha considered extremely dangerous.
There are nearly 18 species in total and they are mostly found in big rivers in South America: Amazon, Orinoco and Parana.
They live and breed in almost any running water and they usually hunt in lakes and flood waters as long as these are filled with the fish that piranha feed on.
If you take it out of its group, the piranha is no more dangerous than any small predator fish because, even if there are certain species of piranha that can grow up to 30 cm, most piranhas are way smaller and have proper appetite.
At first sight, the piranha does not look like a scary predator.
Its body is flat and it has a short and flat face.
Only its inferior jaw sticks out to point its bad habits.
He may seem incapable of swimming fast but looks can be deceiving as his tail is powered by strong muscles and it can propel the piranha inside the water at an amazing speed, especially during its attacks.
Even so, you must know that in clean waters, piranha will only eat fish.
They never attack other animals unless the water is dirty, in which case piranhas can smell blood and they won't look for regular food anymore.
In South America, white piranha meat is a special course and it is often hunted by fisherman.
The biggest piranha species is called the piraya but other smaller species are just as dangerous as this one.
Swimming in large group, they attack devour any animal standing in their way, leaving only the skeleton behind.
Piranhas have become legendary and not in a positive way.
All over South America there are stories about unfortunate swimmers that were attacked by large piranha groups and their flesh was torn to pieces.
According to a story that made sensation, an ingenious attack on a horse made both the horseman and the horse fall into the water.
All that was left behind were 2 skeletons and the man's clothes which were intact.
Most stories speak of a red belly piranha fish, one of the 4 species of piranha considered extremely dangerous.
There are nearly 18 species in total and they are mostly found in big rivers in South America: Amazon, Orinoco and Parana.
They live and breed in almost any running water and they usually hunt in lakes and flood waters as long as these are filled with the fish that piranha feed on.
If you take it out of its group, the piranha is no more dangerous than any small predator fish because, even if there are certain species of piranha that can grow up to 30 cm, most piranhas are way smaller and have proper appetite.
At first sight, the piranha does not look like a scary predator.
Its body is flat and it has a short and flat face.
Only its inferior jaw sticks out to point its bad habits.
He may seem incapable of swimming fast but looks can be deceiving as his tail is powered by strong muscles and it can propel the piranha inside the water at an amazing speed, especially during its attacks.
Even so, you must know that in clean waters, piranha will only eat fish.
They never attack other animals unless the water is dirty, in which case piranhas can smell blood and they won't look for regular food anymore.
In South America, white piranha meat is a special course and it is often hunted by fisherman.
The biggest piranha species is called the piraya but other smaller species are just as dangerous as this one.