Red-bellied piranha
Red-bellied piranha | |
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Karlsruhe Zoo, Germany | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Characiformes |
Family: | Serrasalmidae |
Genus: | Pygocentrus |
Species: | P. nattereri
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Binomial name | |
Pygocentrus nattereri Kner, 1858
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The red-bellied piranha, also known as the red piranha (Pygocentrus nattereri), is a type of piranha native to South America, found in the Amazon, Paraguay, Paraná and Essequibo basins, as well as coastal rivers of northeastern Brazil.[2][1] This fish is locally abundant in its freshwater habitat.[3] They are omnivorous foragers and feed on insects, worms, crustaceans, and fish. They are not a migratory species but do travel to seek out conditions conducive to breeding and spawning during periods of increased rainfall. Red-bellied piranhas often travel in shoals as a predatory defense but rarely exhibit group hunting behavior. Acoustic communication is common and is sometimes exhibited along with aggressive behaviors. They are a popular aquarium fish.
Taxonomy and phylogeny
The red-bellied piranha belongs to the family Serrasalmidae, which is a group of medium to large-sized characids and includes other closely related omnivores such as pacus.[4] They are characterized by deep, lateral compressed bodies and long dorsal fins.[5] Within the family, red-bellied piranhas are classified in the genus Pygocentrus, which is distinguished by the unusual dentition and differing head width dimensions. The red-bellied piranha is often thought of as highly carnivorous, while most other fish that are not piranhas in the family are primarily herbivorous. However, the red-bellied piranha is actually omnivorous.[5]
Distribution and habitat
The red-bellied piranha is distributed widely throughout the South American continent and is found in the
No piranha is found in the
Description
The red-bellied piranha has a popular reputation as a ferocious predator, despite being primarily a
The red-bellied piranha is typically found in white water rivers, such as the
A significant amount of lore regarding the ferocity of the red-bellied piranha can be traced to President
Behavior
Pygocentrus nattereri encompasses a larger geographic area than any other piranha species, covering much of the
The red-bellied piranha is not a migratory species[16]: 288 but does search for conditions conducive to reproduction during seasons of increased rainfall.[citation needed] Red-bellied piranhas are omnivores and primarily foragers. They feed on insects, fish, plants, and organic debris.[2] Bechara et al., 1996 finds P. nattereri is almost immune to gas bubble disease which is devastating to almost all fish in the same environment.[16]: 288
Diet and feeding behavior
The typical diet of red-bellied piranhas is
Foraging methods vary throughout the different stages of a piranha's life. Smaller fish will search for food during the day, while larger fish will forage at dawn, in the late afternoon, and in the early evening. Throughout the day, the fish lurk in dark areas and ambush their prey. The piranha may also catch prey by hunting and chasing, where it will lie hidden in the vegetation until its prey swims by. The piranha will then capture its prey. When scavenging, the piranha will eat a wide variety of food, ranging from pieces of debris, insects, snails, fish fins, scales, and plants.[2]
Reproduction
The breeding habits of piranhas in nature are mostly unknown, with most spawning research being done in aquariums.[20] Piranhas are usually able to breed by the time they are one year old. Female piranhas will lay several thousand eggs near water plants, onto which the eggs stick. The males then fertilize the eggs. After just two to three days the eggs will hatch, and the juvenile piranhas will hide in the plants until they are large enough to defend themselves, at which point hiding from predators becomes lurking for prey.[18]
Research on red-bellied piranha breeding behavior in nature has revealed certain behavioral patterns around nesting sites. Adult piranhas will swim side-by-side in small circles, sometimes with two individuals swimming in opposite directions while keeping their
This formation of mating pairs,
Piranhas have two annual reproductive seasons; these seasons are tied to water level fluctuations, the
Shoaling
Red-bellied piranhas often travel in shoals as a predatory defense, as well as for the offense. In studies that tested the piranhas' reactions to a simulated predator attack, resting opercular rates returned to normal more quickly among piranhas that were in shoals of eight rather than in shoals of two. Although it has been presumed that piranhas engage in pack-hunting behavior, no investigation shows that shoaling behavior among piranhas is used for cooperative hunting.[21]
Most likely, this shoaling behavior is a defense against predation from larger animals such as
Communication and signaling
Acoustic communication among red-bellied piranhas is exhibited along with aggressive behaviors, such as biting, chasing,
All of the observations made on sound production by red-bellied piranha have been when specimens were held by hand. When taken out of the water, the red-bellied piranha will emit a drumming-like sound, consisting of a low-frequency harmonic sound.[24] However, research has shown the presence of three types of acoustic emissions that are associated with specific behaviors. Type one calls are made up of harmonic sounds, last approximately 140 milliseconds at 120 Hz, and are associated with frontal display behavior between two fish. Type two sounds last approximately 36 milliseconds at 40 Hz, and are associated with circling and fighting behavior related to food competition. Type three sounds are made up of a single pulse lasting just 3 milliseconds at 1740 Hz, and are highly associated with chasing behavior toward a conspecific individual. This same sound is also produced when an individual snaps its jaws to bite another individual.[24]Nearly all sounds produced by red-bellied piranhas are produced in the context of social interactions between individuals. The low, drumming sounds are typically produced during moderate attacks, while loud, threatened sounds are produced during more vigorous attacks.[24]
Conservation status
The red-bellied piranha is widespread and locally abundant. In some parts of its range, it is among the most common fish species.[3] The collection and trade of the species to aquariums may locally present a low risk to the red-bellied piranha.[6]
In the media
Many myths surround this species. The 1978 film Piranha by Joe Dante shows these fish in a similar light to sharks in Jaws. Piranha was followed by a sequel, Piranha II: The Spawning, in 1982, and two remakes, one in 1995, and Piranha 3D in 2010, which also got a sequel of its own, Piranha 3DD. Films such as these, and stories of large schools of red-bellies attacking humans, fuel their exaggerated and erroneous reputation as being one of the most ferocious freshwater fish. In reality, they are generally timid scavengers, fulfilling a role similar to vultures on land. In Piranha 3D, a previously unknown piranha is discovered. Christopher Lloyd's character misidentifies a specimen of this monstrous new species as the familiar Pygocentrus nattereri.[25]
In aquariums
Red-bellied piranhas are sometimes kept as aquarium fish. They may be fed live, fresh, or frozen food, but they will not eat rotten meats. Their natural diet consists of live prey and dead animals or fish. Live feedings to captive piranhas can introduce diseases [citation needed], and goldfish contain a growth-inhibiting hormone, which in turn will affect piranhas [citation needed]. Red-bellied piranhas, particularly when juvenile, will sometimes bite one another in the aquarium, normally on the fins, in behavior called 'fin nipping'. Those that have had their fins nipped will grow them back surprisingly rapidly. To maintain a piranha aquarium, it is important to keep the water quality up, as they are messy eaters, and this will dirty the water in the tank. Also, they need places to hide in dim light. Because in the wild they may not eat every day, those in captivity do not need to be fed daily, but when hungry, they can eat each other.[26][27]
References
- ^ a b c Froese, R. and D. Pauly, Editors. Pygocentrus nattereri. FishBase. 2015.
- ^ a b c Pygocentrus nattereri. Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan. Accessed 19 February 2016.
- ^ PMID 27516875.
- ^ Black-finned Pacu Fish, Colossoma macropomum: Profile with care, maintenance requirements and breeding information for your tropical fish. Badmanstropicalfish.com. Retrieved on 2012-05-13.
- ^ . Retrieved 2009-06-22.
- ^ a b c d e "Red-bellied piranha". ARKive. Archived from the original on 2013-12-05. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
- ^ a b c d "Pygocentrus nattereri". SeriouslyFish. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
- .
- S2CID 25361090.
- ^ ISBN 978-94-024-0948-2.
- ^ a b c "California's Invaders: Piranha". California Department of Fish and Wildlife. 2020. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
- Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
- ^ "Red-bellied piranha". BBC Nature Wildlife. BBC. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
- ^ S2CID 29214833.
- ^ PMID 22192829.
- ^ OCLC 47894872.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Pygocentrus nattereri (Redbelly piranha)".
- ^ a b c "Red-bellied piranha". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
- Indiana Public Media.
- ^ S2CID 44227257.
- ^ PMID 17148153.
- S2CID 14821360.
- S2CID 7395840.
- ^ PMID 21993790.
- S2CID 85396832.
- ISBN 1890087718
- ^ "ferocious and terrifying Pygocentrus nattereri not flooding the Amazon rivers?". Retrieved 23 February 2024.
External links
- Media related to Pygocentrus nattereri at Wikimedia Commons