What is the meaning of the word piranha?

What is the meaning of the word piranha?

Definitions of pirana. small voraciously carnivorous freshwater fishes of South America that attack and destroy living animals. synonyms: caribe, piranha.

Where does the name piranha come from?

The name originates from the indigenous Tupi people and their respective Tupi language. It is formed from two words, pirá meaning fish and sainha meaning tooth; the same word is used by Indians to describe a pair of scissors. Or pira nya, probably literally “biting-fish”.

What does piranha mean in Brazil?

In Brazil, the word can mean a prostitute… …or a fish. Their name in Tupi-Guarani simply means “toothed fish”. They are found in many of the rivers of Brazil and can grow to a length exceeding forty centimeters.

What is the another name for piranha?

In this page you can discover 20 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for piranha, like: pirana, fish, marauder, predator, caribe, man-eating fish, vulture, plec, catfish, cichlid and shovelnose.

Are piranhas real?

Piranhas have lived in South America for millions of years Today, piranhas inhabit the freshwaters of South America from the Orinoco River Basin in Venezuela up to the Paraná River in Argentina. Though estimates vary, around 30 species inhabit the lakes and rivers of South America today.

What is the scientific name for a piranha?

Pygocentrus nattereri
Red-bellied piranha/Scientific names

These fish species are sometimes called caribe or piraya. Some specific species scientific names include the red-bellied piranha (Pygocentrus nattereri), the lobetooth piranha (Pygocentrus denticulata), the San Francisco piranha (Pygocentrus piraya) and the black piranha (Serrasalmus rhombeus).

Why are piranhas so aggressive?

Part of piranhas’ fierce reputation stems from the fact that they often swim in packs or shoals. Red-bellied piranhas are particularly known as pack hunters. Though it might seem an advantageous hunting technique—more fish could theoretically take down a larger foe—the behavior actually stems from fear.

What is the prey of a Piranah?

Piranhas are opportunistic carnivores (flesh-eaters). They eat aquatic and land animals that are in the water. Some of their prey includes fish, mollusks, crustaceans, insects, birds, lizards, amphibians, rodents and carrion (carcasses). Piranhas are diurnal (most active during the day).

What is the description of a piranha?

Piranha Description. The body of the Piranha is a gray color that can also be olive in some areas. They have tightly packed teeth that interlock to each other. They use them to sheer and to puncture their prey. They can be from 5 to 10 inches long. There are various piranha species so the size and coloration of them can vary significantly.

What is the definition of piranha?

Definition of piranha. : any of various usually small South American characin fishes (genera Serrasalmus and Pygocentrus ) that have very sharp teeth, often appear in schools, and include some that may attack and inflict dangerous wounds upon humans and large animals. — called also caribe.

What are Piranha Babies called?

The normal amount of time for babies to be born is 2-3 days. There is hundreds in a litter or a spawn. Young piranhas are called piranhas and fries. These fish can live up to an amount of 10 years old.