Piranha Migration

Piranhas are small, primarily South American fish known for their razor-sharp teeth. Myths and lore surround the piranha, and they are often characterized as school fish with a thirst for blood. Stories abound in which piranha strip cattle or even humans of flesh within minutes, leaving nothing but skeletal remains. However, these tales are largely, if not entirely, untrue. Piranhas are not nearly as ferocious as some people allege them to be. Their diets are far more limited than myth would hold, and they migrate in distinctive patterns trying to satisfy their diets.

  1. Piranha Biology

    • Piranhas are small fish, often ranging 5.5 to 10 inches in length. Their best-known feature is their dental presentation. Piranhas have a single row of jagged teeth on both their upper and lower jaws. The teeth interlock and excel at puncturing and tearing food. While some piranhas are carnivorous, some varieties are herbaceous. Seeds constitute a significant portion of some piranha's diet. When they do consume flesh, they usually feast on the bodies of already-dead fish. Piranhas travel in sizable schools, not to attack large animals, but to protect themselves from their own predators.

    Piranha Ecology

    • Piranhas primarily dwell in South American rivers. They often inhabit low-water areas and drainage areas. It is common for several species of piranhas to coexist in the same environment. They are scavengers and omnivores, which means they can meet their dietary requirements in many locations and, therefore, do not have to migrate far.

    Migration Distance and Destination

    • Studies show that piranhas do not migrate extensively under normal circumstances. Their broad diet and small bodies make meeting their nutritional requirements a relatively painless task. When piranhas migrate, they do not leave the body of water in which they live, and often do not even leave the local region of that body of water. If piranhas migrate, they tend to go into flooded land areas, since they thrive in shallow water. Flooded forests yield an abundance of plant and animal matter to consume, and a limited number of predators.

    Migration Pattern and Time

    • A piranha's total migration pattern is circular and small. They do not travel far, and they often stay in a limited area. They will return cyclically to the same area following food supplies, be they plant or animal-based. Since flooding is often seasonal, piranhas merely move in and out of local flood-prone areas when they migrate. Piranha movement and activity is often synchronized with dawn. Though they may remain active after dark and into the night, they are typically most active in the early morning at sunrise.