True to their name, red-bellied piranhas are red on their undersides from chin and cheeks to belly. This species is sometimes called the “red-bellied piranha.”. In the aquarium and in smaller numbers, the story is very different. Their powerful jaws and triangular teeth further fuel the reputation of the piranha. Females will lay around 5,000 eggs on newly submerged vegetation in nests that are built by the males. The red-bellied piranha, also known as the red piranha (Pygocentrus nattereri), is a species of piranha native to South America, found in the Amazon, Paraguay, Paraná and Essequibo basins, as well as coastal rivers of northeastern Brazil.
However, it can also attack larger prey as a group, when an animal is sick or injured. Share the story of this animal with others. Finished with its first course, the fish swims off in search of more food. Although it is extremely variable in appearance, the red-bellied piranha takes its name from the characteristic red belly, which is often a deeper, more intense red in the male piranha, while the rest of the body is usually grey, with silver flecked scales, sometimes appearing creamy-brown on the sides. The piranha's distinctly rounded and snub-nosed profile serves a function. There are more than 80 species of piranha, most of which are herbivores. Helping Fishkeepers With Their Fishkeeping Needs Since 2006, Help us keep great tools like this online by becoming a, Think Fish © 2004-2019 everything you need for your. Suit up and stand waist-deep in our beluga habitat alongside our beluga whale trainers.
The success of annual reproduction varies depending on the degree to which the flood plain (savannah) is flooded. 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. However, the red-bellied piranha is actually omnivorous. Despite the defensive practice of circling the nests, red-bellied piranhas are often passive towards other fish that approach the nest.
* This fishtank will only last for this session - to save your tank please Join/Log in, There are currently no fish in your fish tank. », (€12,00 for children 3 to 17 included), only on justificatory presentation at the Aquarium cash, from 2 adults (parents) and 3 paying children (3 to 17 years). By continuing browsing this site, you accept the use of cookies for statistical purposes. We're excited to welcome you back to the Zoo, and we've made a few changes. Females can be distinguished from males by the slightly deeper red color of their bellies.
Despite the piranha's reputation as a dangerous carnivore, it is actually primarily a scavenger and forager, and will mainly eat plants and insects during the rainy season when food is abundant. Use our fish community creator tool to plan your tank set up and ensure that the Red Bellied Piranha is the right fish for your aquarium. Other colorations include sides that are often pale brown to slightly olive and backs that are bluish gray to brownish. ^^ Go up to read Red Bellied Piranha profile description, Welcome to our Tropical Fishkeeping Forum. With the Confort & Flash tickets,save time and avoid the line !
[6], Pygocentrus nattereri encompasses a larger geographic area than any other piranha species, covering much of the Neotropical region. All rights reserved. Although it is not as aggressive as once believed, red piranha can inflict serious bites. [20], Nearly all sounds produced by red-bellied piranhas are produced in the context of social interactions between individuals. [14] In packs up to hundreds, piranhas have been known to feed on animals as large as egrets or capybara.