South AmericaNot evaluated
Red-bellied piranha
Pygocentrus nattereri
A fish of the Amazon with razor-sharp, interlocking teeth.
- Weight
- Up to 3.5 kg
- Size
- Up to 33 cm long
- Lifespan
- About 10 years
- Top speed
- Fast in short bursts
- Diet
- Fish, insects, seeds, fruit
How heavy is that?
About 9% of a 40 kg kid
Where it lives
Three things to know
- It swims in groups mainly for safety, not to attack.
- It eats fish, insects, seeds and even fruit.
- It can make barking sounds to warn others.
Compare with…
- Weight
- Red-bellied piranha3.5 kgA 10-year-old kid40 kgThe kid weighs about 11× as much as the piranha
- Size
- Red-bellied piranha33 cmA 10-year-old kid1.4 mThe kid is about 4× as big as the piranha
- Top speed
- Red-bellied piranha—A 10-year-old kid20 km/hToo slow to time
- Lifespan
- Red-bellied piranha10 yrsA 10-year-old kid80 yrsThe kid can live about 8× as long as the piranha
Food chain
- Tiny algaeProducer
- Small fish
Red-bellied piranhaThis animal- Caiman