Top 10 common species of piranhas, red-bellied piranha is on the list, and the fourth is the best-selling species of piranha.
Piranhas are a type of fish that are widely distributed in the Amazon River basin in South America. They are a type of carnivorous fish, with few being omnivorous, and most of them have strong attack capabilities and are extremely ferocious. What are the common types of piranhas? This article will list the top ten common species of piranhas for everyone to learn about.
Top Ten Common Species of Piranhas:
- Red-bellied Piranha
The red-bellied piranha, also known as the Pygocentrus nattereri, is mainly distributed in the slow-moving waters, lakes, and shallow ponds of the Amazon River basin in South America. It is famous for its reputation as a man-eating fish and is well-known worldwide. Although most piranha attacks on humans around the world are caused by red-bellied piranhas, they are actually famous food and game fish in their native areas and can also be used as ornamental fish.
2. Red Diamond Piranha
The red diamond piranha, also known as the Serrasalmus rhombeus, is a tropical freshwater fish species that mainly inhabits the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve in Peru, including the Pacaya and Ucayali Rivers. Due to its ferocious temperament, it is one of the most well-known species of piranhas and is commonly found in the aquarium trade.
3. Black Piranha
The black piranha, also known as the Serrasalmus rhombeus, is a representative species of the Serrasalmus genus of piranhas that inhabits the main streams, larger tributaries, and turbulent waters of rivers. With its blood-red eyes, impressive size, and infamous reputation, it has become one of the must-have fish species for enthusiasts of piranhas.
4. Scarlet Piranha
The scarlet piranha, also known as the Pygocentrus altus, is one of the largest species of piranhas and is mainly distributed in the San Francisco River basin. Its body can reach up to 50 centimeters in length and it is known for its colorful appearance, making it one of the best-selling species of piranhas worldwide.
5. Yellow Piranha
The yellow piranha, also known as the Serrasalmus marginatus, is primarily distributed in the Kuyaba River basin in South America, particularly in Venezuela. It is also known as the Venezuelan spotted piranha and has a similar distribution to the red-bellied piranha, but with a larger size.
6. Golden Piranha
The Golden Piranha, also known as the Black Diamond Piranha, is a tropical freshwater fish species belonging to the serrasalmid family. It is mainly found in the fish species of the Amazon, Madeira, Xingu, Paraguay, and Paraná river basins and has become a well-known and popular aquarium fish due to its attractive appearance.
7. Pacu Piranha
The Pacu Piranha, also known as the Black Pacu, is mainly found in the Orinoco, Amazon, and Paraguay river basins. It belongs to the special group of carnivorous fish species and has a unique feeding behavior that does not immediately cause the death of other fish species. This feeding behavior is classified as parasitic in ecology.
8. Red-Bellied Piranha
The Red-Bellied Piranha is a predatory fish species mainly distributed in the Orinoco River basin in Venezuela. Its lower jaw area is red, and its head is silver-orange while other areas of its body are green-orange. The fish’s fins are bright red, and it can grow up to 17 cm long. Its primary food sources are crustaceans and aquatic insects.
9. Red-Shouldered Piranha
The Red-Shouldered Piranha, also known as the Spotted Piranha, mainly inhabits the Atacavi River in southern Venezuela. It has an oval-shaped body and can grow up to 24.8 cm in length as an adult. Its body is silver-colored with black dots all over, and its fins are orange.
10. Indian Warrior Piranha
The Indian Warrior Piranha mainly inhabits the freshwater rivers of the Amazon and Tocantins in South America. It is a solitary fish with strong territorial instincts, making it a popular aquarium fish due to its striking appearance and bright colors.
