“…and today we’re talking about how when a red belly rises it means blood has been spilled this night. But more on that later.”
Description of the Red-Bellied Piranha
The red-bellied piranha is a small to medium-sized fish, well-known for its striking appearance and infamous reputation. Here’s a more detailed description:
- Color: Their most distinctive feature is their red belly, which is more pronounced in males and during the breeding season. The rest of their body is usually gray to silvery, with some speckling.
- Shape: They have a rounded, laterally compressed body, giving them a somewhat disc-like appearance when viewed from the side.
- Fins: Their fins are generally clear or slightly reddish, with a prominent adipose fin between the dorsal fin and the tail.
- Teeth: They have sharp, triangular teeth designed for tearing flesh, which contributes to their fearsome reputation.
- Eyes: Red-bellied piranhas have large, slightly bulging eyes that give them excellent vision, vital for detecting prey and predators.
Measure Up
Welcome to the beloved Measure Up segment. A part of the show! The part of the show when we present the animal’s size and dimension in relatable terms through a quiz that’s fun for the whole family. It’s also the part of the show that’s introduced by you when you send in audio of yourself saying, singing, or chittering the words Measure Up into ldtaxonomy at gmail dot com. We don’t have a new Measure Up intro!
Length
6-10 inches (15-25 cm)
- 5 go into Michael Jordan’s vertical leap
- 3 go into the Stratocaster Michael Jackson played on the album “HIStory”
- 1,575 go into Michael Johnson’s record setting event in 1999.
Weight
3.9 kg (8 lb 10 oz)
- 39,000 peas
- 9,800 green beans
- 18 zucchini
Fast Facts About the Red-Bellied Piranha
Diet: Despite their fearsome reputation, red-bellied piranhas are primarily scavengers. They eat a variety of food, including fish, insects, crustaceans, and plant matter.
Social Behavior: Red-bellied piranhas are schooling fish and often travel in groups. This behavior helps them protect against predators and increases their efficiency in finding food.
Habitat: They are native to the freshwater rivers and lakes of South America, including the Amazon Basin.
Communication: Red-bellied piranhas communicate using a variety of sounds, including barks, grunts, and clicks. These sounds can indicate aggression, stress, or other social interactions.
Reproduction: During breeding, males develop a more intense red coloration. They build nests in the substrate where females lay their eggs. Both parents guard the eggs until they hatch.
Lifespan: In the wild, red-bellied piranhas can live for about 10 years, while in captivity, they can live even longer with proper care.