Red-bellied piranha

Red-bellied piranha
Karlsruhe Zoo, Germany
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Characiformes
Family: Serrasalmidae
Genus: Pygocentrus
Species:
P. nattereri
Binomial name
Pygocentrus nattereri
Kner, 1858
Synonyms
  • Pygocentrus altus Gill, 1870
  • Pygocentrus ternetzi (Steindachner, 1908)
  • Rooseveltiella nattereri (Kner, 1858)
  • Serrasalmo ternetzi Steindachner, 1908
  • Serrasalmus nattereri (Kner, 1858)
  • Serrasalmus ternetzi Steindachner, 1908

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. This fish is locally abundant in its freshwater habitat. 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.