Redeye piranha facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Redeye piranha |
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The redeye piranha (Serrasalmus rhombeus) is a type of piranha that lives in freshwater. It is also known by other names like the black piranha or white piranha. This fish belongs to the family called Serrasalmidae. You can find it in the northern parts of South America. It is the main example for its group, the Serrasalmus genus.
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What Does the Redeye Piranha Look Like?
The redeye piranha is one of the bigger kinds of piranhas. It has a special body shape that looks like a diamond. Its color can be anything from gray to almost black. No matter the body color, this piranha always has red eyes.
Color Changes as They Grow
Young redeye piranhas might have a spotted look. As they get older, their silvery bodies become less spotted. They change to a darker gray or black color. How dark the fish become depends on the water where they live. Piranhas in Peru, for example, can be almost completely black.
Size and Weight
The longest redeye piranha ever measured was about 41.5 centimeters (16.3 inches) long. But most of them are around 32 centimeters (12.6 inches) long. They can weigh up to 3.0 kilograms (6.6 pounds).
Where Do Redeye Piranhas Live?
Redeye piranhas live in northern South America. You can find them in rivers east of the Andes mountains. They live in big river systems like the Amazon and Orinoco. They are also found in the Essequibo River and other rivers in the Guiana Shield area. Some live in coastal rivers in northeastern Brazil too.
How Redeye Piranhas Live and Eat
Redeye piranhas can live in many different places in the water. Adult piranhas like to stay in bigger, deeper parts of rivers. They often hunt for food in deep areas or near fast-moving water.
Where Young Piranhas Live
Young redeye piranhas are usually found in calmer water. They like places with lots of plants under the water or along the edges. Piranhas that live in cloudy, light-colored water tend to be paler. Those in clear or dark water are usually darker.
What They Eat
These fish eat many different things. They are called omnivores, which means they eat both plants and animals. They will eat plants, fruits that fall into the water, and smaller animals. This includes insects and small fish. They are also known to nip off the scales and fins of other fish. Redeye piranhas are good scavengers. This means they will eat dead animals they find in the river.
Social Life
The redeye piranha usually lives alone. It is not a fish that likes to be in big groups. When they are breeding, they protect the area around their nest. They build their nests among thick plants.
Naming the Redeye Piranha
The redeye piranha was first officially described in 1766. It was named Salmo rhombeus by Carl Linnaeus. The first place it was found and described was in Brokopondo, on the Suriname River in Suriname.
Later, in 1803, a scientist named Bernard Germain de Lacépède created a new group called Serrasalmus. The only fish he put in this new group was Salmo rhombeus. This means the redeye piranha is the main example, or "type species," for its group. Scientists think that S. rhombeus might actually be several different kinds of fish that look very similar. But more research is needed to confirm this.
See also
In Spanish: Serrasalmus rhombeus para niños
