PIRANHA

Did you know? Guests at our Posada Amazonas lodge get the chance to meet the Piranhas during the visit to Tres Chimbadas Oxbow Lake!

Everyone who comes to the Amazon Rainforest knows about the Piranha: the scary, toothy creature that’s attacked generations of Hollywood stars, right? As with many jungle animals, the movie legend is almost nothing like the real fish.

Piranhas are a fascinating, integral part of ecosystems all around the Amazon Basin. Scientists believe there are 30 to 60 species of the fish, from the small Yellow-Bellied Piranha you see above to the 50 cm (2o in) long Red-Bellied Piranha. While Piranhas aren’t the fearsome beasts they’re cracked up to be, they do have impressive teeth, and some do travel in groups. They’re omnivores, eating mostly fish, along with seeds, nuts, and sometimes other animals. Piranhas are even a food source in some parts of the Amazon, where people consider them a cleaner alternative to bottom-feeders like Catfish. As a freshwater fish that loves tranquil waters, Piranhas actually don’t live in our Tambopata River — so fear not! They do live in calmer lakes and ponds nearby.

Piranha Fun Facts

• They’re Not Really the Monsters of Hollywood Lore: While Piranha attacks have occurred, they’re far from dangerous predators of humans. Really, they’re just normal fish, more worried about predators hunting them than attacking bathers. And as for the scary swarms of Piranhas you see in movies, some types do swim in groups, but scientists have discovered this is actually for protection! Predators like Caiman, birds, and Dolphins eat Piranhas.


• Ancient “Megapiranhas” Were A Meter Long: Modern Piranhas’ teeth are intimidating enough. Image the “Megapiranha” of 8-10 million years ago, which stretched up to a meter (about three feet) long! Scientists have discovered Megapiranha skeletons in what is now Argentina.


• Are Piranhas World Travelers?: Piranhas, of course, are originally from the Amazon rainforest. But in our globalized age, it seems that some of these toothy fish have begun to travel the globe. Scientists have recently discovered Piranhas happily living in Bangladesh and China! It’s still a mystery how they got there, but it’s possible that exotic fish traders brought them to Asia illegally, then dumped them in natural waterways to avoid getting caught.