Are Piranhas Really That Fierce?

Piranhas are certainly one of the most infamous of all aquatic predators but their threat to humans has been exaggerated. They are more of a nuisance to people who are bathing or wading in rivers than a real danger.

Their threat to the fish they prey on is, however, not an exaggeration and they are the fiercest of predators. Firstly, they hunt and kill in groups and there are strong bonds between members of local piranha communities. They make up for their small size by attacking in one large, frenzied mass.

Often they clear up fishes that are weak, injured, sick or dead and they can attack weakened fish much larger than their normal prey. Once piranhas have spilled their victim's blood they lose control completely and become increasingly frantic, tearing off mouthfuls of flesh without swallowing. The blood attracts others and a shoal has been known to strip a large fish down to its skeleton within minutes.