Red Piranha

South America's river shark

This fearsome-looking fish has a reputation for causing serious damage. The Red Piranha (Serrasalmus nattereri) is found in South America from the River Palte to the Orinoco.

It is a small ugly-looking fish, with a deep, blunt head and short powerful jaws armed with razor-sharp, interlocked teeth. It is carnivorous, usually feeding on smaller animals.

In larger lakes and lagoons, swimmers and bathers generally go unmolested by these fishes. Similarly, riverine populations represent no great threat.

Dangerous situations occur in the dry season when the lakes and lagoons shrink, allowing the Red Piranhas to congregate in large numbers. Hunting as a group these aggressive predators can kill animals as large as horses or even humans. The group can attack in such a frenzy that the water appears to turn red with blood and the prey is reduced to mere bones in minutes.

A taste for blood?
It has always been thought that blood was the major stimulant to a frenzied attack by a group of Red Piranhas. Whilst there is still some doubt, it seems however, that Red Piranhas are more readily attracted to noise and splashing by which they recognise a wounded animal in the water.