To Contact Us:
Surface Mail:
Tim and Vicki Reiner ٠ C.P. 111 ٠
56.300-000 ٠ Petrolina, PE ٠ BRAZIL
Email: timandvicki@inafarplace.com
Website: http://www.inafarplace.com
Surface Mail:
Tim and Vicki Reiner ٠ C.P. 111 ٠
56.300-000 ٠ Petrolina, PE ٠ BRAZIL
Email: timandvicki@inafarplace.com
Website: http://www.inafarplace.com
| Creature Feature |
| As Piranhas Perigosas |
| Tim & Vicki Reiner in a Far Place |
The piranha, a member of the family
Characidae in the Characiformes order, is a fresh
water omniverous fish that lives in the rivers of
South America. It has razor-sharp teeth and a
voracity for meat. They are known to snap steel
hooks on the end of steel leaders and shred
rapala lures. Although occasionally found in
other river systems, it originates from the rivers
of the Guyanas, the Orinoco River of Venezuela,
and the Amazon and São Francisco Rivers of
Brazil. The most common ones in our area of the
São Franciso River are the Red belly Piranha
(Pygocentrus nattereri) and the Silver-breasted
Piranha Pirambeba (Serrasalmus spilopleura).
Characidae in the Characiformes order, is a fresh
water omniverous fish that lives in the rivers of
South America. It has razor-sharp teeth and a
voracity for meat. They are known to snap steel
hooks on the end of steel leaders and shred
rapala lures. Although occasionally found in
other river systems, it originates from the rivers
of the Guyanas, the Orinoco River of Venezuela,
and the Amazon and São Francisco Rivers of
Brazil. The most common ones in our area of the
São Franciso River are the Red belly Piranha
(Pygocentrus nattereri) and the Silver-breasted
Piranha Pirambeba (Serrasalmus spilopleura).
Typically, piranhas are 6-10 inches long (14-26
cm), some get as large as 18 inches (43 cm). They
are both predators (eating smaller fish) and
scavengers (eating dead animals). They school
to protect themselves from their natural
predators (cormorants, caimans, and dolphins).
Not strictly carnivorous, they also eat vegetable
matter at some stage of their life span.
cm), some get as large as 18 inches (43 cm). They
are both predators (eating smaller fish) and
scavengers (eating dead animals). They school
to protect themselves from their natural
predators (cormorants, caimans, and dolphins).
Not strictly carnivorous, they also eat vegetable
matter at some stage of their life span.
That piranhas are attracted by blood and strictly carnivorous has been greatly exaggerated. People who enjoy the
river even swim in the same waters as the piranhas and are unharmed. However, piranhas have a similar sensory
perception to blood as sharks, so it would not be wise to swim in their waters if you are cut. “While piranha schools can
reach over a thousand in count, and bites do happen, there are no documented reports of someone being killed in a
piranha attack.” (Piranha Fish Facts) They are more likely to attack in rapids or when trapped in shrinking pools of river
water where they cannot find enough food for survival.
river even swim in the same waters as the piranhas and are unharmed. However, piranhas have a similar sensory
perception to blood as sharks, so it would not be wise to swim in their waters if you are cut. “While piranha schools can
reach over a thousand in count, and bites do happen, there are no documented reports of someone being killed in a
piranha attack.” (Piranha Fish Facts) They are more likely to attack in rapids or when trapped in shrinking pools of river
water where they cannot find enough food for survival.
Supposedly, the story that piranhas would skin and eat a living being was merely a staged scene to impress U.S.
President Theodore Roosevelt when he visited the Amazon region. Fishermen netted off a section of a tributary,
filling it with hungry piranhas. They proceeded to throw in large pieces of a cow. As the piranhas began their eating
frenzy, the waters boiled, reducing the carcass to mere bones. The president wrote about these vicious piranhas in his
book Through the Brazilian Wilderness. Later, in movies, the piranhas were depicted as vicious killers.
President Theodore Roosevelt when he visited the Amazon region. Fishermen netted off a section of a tributary,
filling it with hungry piranhas. They proceeded to throw in large pieces of a cow. As the piranhas began their eating
frenzy, the waters boiled, reducing the carcass to mere bones. The president wrote about these vicious piranhas in his
book Through the Brazilian Wilderness. Later, in movies, the piranhas were depicted as vicious killers.
A very boney fish, piranha is a challenge to eat. The meat is tasty and easier to pull off a larger specimen. The record
catch size in our family was by Jane - 3 kilos 200 grams. Tim w/ 4 men from the church had a record catch of 396
piranhas in 4 hours. We cut up beef and beef hearts for bait. To avoid their sharp teeth, Tim always uses plyers to
remove them from the hook.
Several times a month, Tim happily takes area or visiting fishermen to try to beat the records.
catch size in our family was by Jane - 3 kilos 200 grams. Tim w/ 4 men from the church had a record catch of 396
piranhas in 4 hours. We cut up beef and beef hearts for bait. To avoid their sharp teeth, Tim always uses plyers to
remove them from the hook.
Several times a month, Tim happily takes area or visiting fishermen to try to beat the records.
For more information:
http://whozoo.org/Anlife99/ryanweld/piranhaindexfinal.htm
http://www.swordfishingcentral.com/piranha-fish-facts.html
Piranha Fish Feeding Frenzy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YDL201Uvp8
Piranha-bite test
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5JpWWTtVMo
http://whozoo.org/Anlife99/ryanweld/piranhaindexfinal.htm
http://www.swordfishingcentral.com/piranha-fish-facts.html
Piranha Fish Feeding Frenzy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YDL201Uvp8
Piranha-bite test
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5JpWWTtVMo
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