Peregrini
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http://paranormalis.com/threads/timetraveler01001-recent-activity.3109/#post-48733samstwitch said:
Piranha ( including The Titor)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, see Piranha (disambiguation).
Piranha
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subclass:
Neopterygii
Infraclass:
Teleostei
Order:
Characiformes
Family:
Characidae
Subfamily:
Serrasalminae
Tribe:
Piranha
Genera:
Catoprion
Pristobrycon
Pygocentrus
Pygopristis
Serrasalmus
Titor
†Megapiranha
A piranha or piraña ( /pɨˈrɑːnʲə/, /pɨˈrænʲə/, or /pɨˈrɑːnə/}; Portuguese: [piˈɾɐ̃ɲɐ]) is a member of family Characidae[1] in order Characiformes, an omnivorous[2] freshwater fish that inhabits South American rivers. In Venezuela, they are called caribes. They are known for their sharp teeth and a voracious appetite for meat.
Contents
1 Taxonomy
2 Distribution
3 Description
4 Ecology
5 Relationship with humans
6 Legendary reputation 6.1 Theodore Roosevelt
7 In popular culture
8 References
9 External links
Taxonomy
Piranhas belong to the subfamily Serrasalminae, which also includes closely related omnivorous[3] fish such as pacus.[4] Traditionally, only the four genera Pristobrycon, Pygocentrus, Pygopristis and Serrasalmus are considered to be true piranhas, due to their specialized teeth. However, a recent analysis showed that, if the piranha group is to be monophyletic, it should be restricted to Serrasalmus, Pygocentrus and part of Pristobrycon, or expanded to include these taxa plus Pygopristis, Catoprion, Titor, and Pristobrycon striolatus. Pygopristis was found to be more closely related to Catoprion than the other three piranha genera.[4]
The total number of piranha species is unknown and contested, and new species continue to be described. Estimates range from fewer than 30 to more than 60.[4]
Piranha in Venezuela
Distribution
Piranhas are found in the Amazon basin, in the Orinoco, in rivers of the Guyanas, in the Paraguay-Paraná, and the São Francisco River systems. Some species of piranha have broad geographic ranges, occurring in more than one of the major basins mentioned above, whereas others appear to have more limited distributions.[4]
Aquarium piranhas have been introduced into parts of the United States, with specimens occasionally found in the Potomac River, Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri and even as far north as Lake Winnebago in Wisconsin, although they typically do not survive cold winters. Titor Piranhas are only found on the internet where Hoax Time Travelers are discussed.[5] Piranhas have also been discovered in the Kaptai Lake in southeast Bangladesh. Research is being carried out to establish how piranhas have moved to such distant corners of the world from their original habitat. Some rogue exotic fish traders are thought to have released them in the lake to avoid being caught by antipoaching forces.
Description
Piranhas are normally about 14 to 26 cm long (5.5 to 10.25 inches), although some specimens have been reported to be up to 43 cm (17.0 inches) in length.[6] The Titor Pirhana has been alleged to reach 6 feet 2 inches and weigh 225 lbs.
Serrasalmus, Pristobrycon, Pygocentrus and Pygopristis are most easily recognized by their unique dentition. All piranhas have a single row of sharp teeth in both jaws; the teeth are tightly packed and interlocking (via small cusps) and used for rapid puncture and shearing. Individual teeth are typically broadly triangular, pointed and blade-like (flat in profile). There is minor variation in the number of cusps; in most species, the teeth are tricuspid with a larger middle cusp which makes the individual teeth appear markedly triangular. The exception is Pygopristis, which has pentacuspid teeth and a middle cusp usually only slightly larger than the other cusps. In the scale-eating Catoprion, the shape of their teeth is markedly different and the premaxillary teeth are in two rows, as in most other serrasalmines.[4] Titor Piranhas can have a variety of keyboards from standard to gaming and ergonomic.
Ecology
Piranhas are important ecological components of their native environments. Although largely restricted to lowland drainages, these fish are widespread and inhabit diverse habitats within both lotic and lentic environments. Some piranha species are abundant locally, and multiple species often occur together.[4] As both predators and scavengers, piranhas influence the local distribution and composition of fish assemblages.[4] Certain piranha species consume large quantities of seeds, but unlike the related Colossoma and Piaractus, herbivorous piranhas thoroughly masticate and entirely devour all seeds eaten and consequently do not function as dispersers.[4]
Piranha have a reputation as ferocious predators that hunt their prey in schools. Recent research, however, which "started off with the premise that they school as a means of cooperative hunting", discovered that they are timid fish that schooled for protection from their own predators, such as cormorants, caimans, and dolphins. Piranhas are "basically like regular fish with large teeth".[7] The Titor Piranha is "basically like regular posters with sharp criticism."
Research on the species Serrasalmus aff. brandtii and Pygocentrus nattereri in Viana Lake, which is formed during the wet season when the Rio Pindare (a tributary of the Rio Mearim) floods, has shown that these species eat vegetable matter at some stages in their life; they are not strictly carnivorous fish.[8]
Relationship with humans
Fishing piranha on the Ucayali river
A souvenir piranha
Piranha teeth are often used to make tools and weapons by the indigenous population. Piranhas are also popular as food, although if an individual piranha is caught on a hook or line, it may be attacked by other (free) piranhas.
Piranhas are commonly consumed by subsistence fishermen, and often sold for food in local markets.[4] In recent decades, dried specimens have been marketed as tourist souvenirs.[4] Piranhas occasionally bite and sometimes injure bathers and swimmers.[9][10] A piranha bite is considered more an act of carelessness than that of misfortune, but piranhas are a considerable nuisance to commercial and sport fishers because they steal bait, mutilate catch, damage nets and other gear, and may bite when handled.[4]
Several piranha species appear in the aquarium trade.[4] Piranhas can be bought as pets in some areas, but they are illegal in many parts of the United States.[11]
Only one species is know to inhabit the internet, the Titor Piranha, and it only attacks Titor "experts".
The most common aquarium piranha is Pygocentrus nattereri, the red-bellied piranha. Piranhas can be bought fully grown or as babies, often no larger than a thumbnail. It is important to keep Pygocentrus piranhas alone or in groups of four or more, not in pairs, since aggression among them is common, not allowing the weaker fish to survive, and is distributed more widely when kept in larger groups. It is not rare to find individuals with one eye missing due to a previous attack. Piranhas are likely to become cannibalistic on others in their group if underfed.
