Are The Urban Legends True About Piranhas?
Why do most piranha fish in the wild, in the southern Amazon jungle, rarely attack humans? There is no mistaking that these fish do not like humans, but they rarely (if never) harm humans. Piranha fish are carnivores, so their food contains extraordinarily little protein, almost none. However, it usually has very few injuries when it does attack humans, and it is not fatal. This is because the injuries are typical to the human foot or hand rather than the head or neck.
Piranha fish are often seen lurking in the dark as they feed, watching their prey from below. When they see a human approaching, they dive down for a bite, but since humans often leave holes in the water, the fish may try to squeeze its head through or shoot out its mouth and injure the victim. However, when a big fish such as a thirty-pound tiger shark attacks a human, the injuries are typically on the legs or feet. The reason is that when a large fish like this bite down on a human, it can cause internal pressure in the human’s head, resulting in a quick and potentially fatal injury. Piranha fish are very unlikely to attack humans, so unless one plans to go swimming or snorkeling around the Amazon with one of these fish, one may want to refrain from snorkeling or diving with one of these fishes, at least while one has the chance.
Although the injuries are typical to the feet or hands, and most people whom the Piranha fish have attacked tend to think that these types of injuries are more common than they are, there are several types of injuries. One type of injury that may occur is that of a broken jaw or cutthroat. However, other injuries that result from this type of attack include lacerations to the skin and even bruises. Some people have even had their eyes gouged because of an attack. Regardless of the injuries that people receive from a Piranha attack, there is no question that they are extremely painful and sometimes deadly.
People Sometimes Ask The Question, Can Piranha Fish Kill Humans?
Even if it is of the same sex, the presence of another living being can trigger an aggressive response from a piranha fish, resulting in an attack. However, humans who encounter piranha fish do not usually suffer any harm, and there is no recorded history of someone being killed by a wild piranha fish.
In most cases, humans do not become prey for Piranha because they can swim fast enough to outrun the Piranha or react in time to save themselves. The truth is, a piranha is not likely to cause any harm to a human, and it is more likely that he/she will try to avoid getting bitten in the first place. Therefore, people who only experience mild irritation from a piranha fish may not realize that they are in danger and may not take any action to save themselves.
The piranha fish will attack anything that gets close to its home, and it is common for a piranha to attack humans who attempt to hunt the fish. As one can see, the Piranha is very protective of its home, even if it means attacking someone who tries to intrude into its territory. Therefore, whenever one sees a human being pursued by a piranha, one needs to take great caution. If piranha fish are attacking one, one should do something to help them escape (such as throwing up their hands and stomping their feet), but otherwise, try to avoid being bitten.
More Beautiful And Less Deadly Than Believed.
Piranha fish is one of the more colorful and popular tropical fish in the world. For this reason, they are often an exotic treat for people in a variety of countries. However, these beautiful and popular fish can be hazardous if taken out into the wild. Many tropical fish are susceptible to toxins and diseases from other marine creatures, while many others are vulnerable to human attacks. There have been hundreds of verified cases of attacks on humans from the Piranha fish species over the last century.
The most common question many ask about how Piranha fish devour humans is, “Do Piranha fish attack humans?” There are a few different reasons why the fish may become aggressive toward humans. First, this species of fish is naturally aggressive toward other fish. They will often attack other smaller fish that may pose a threat to their safety. Some researchers think this behavior is a result of a genetic predisposition toward ferocity.
Another factor to consider is that these species are ambush predators. They rely on surprise to ensure their kill. Therefore, they often wait for their victim to approach before they strike. The great benefit of striking when their prey is surprised is that it will often result in a quick kill without too much damage being done.
If one has ever watched a piranha attack its prey, one will notice that they will first attack the victim’s head then beat at the body until it drowns. This is used as a final, robust defense mechanism. Piranha fish have even been known to attack birds who come close to them! These are extreme actions, but they are indeed extreme for a fish that has no problem at all swimming up to a human or bird and biting it to death.
It is known that piranha fish are naturally carnivores, but there is no evidence to suggest that they will eat anything that is not meat. However, this species can also consume other fish and small vertebrates such as frogs. As they are easily kept and provide a great deal of entertainment, it is no wonder that they have become one of the most popular freshwater species.
Possible Reasons For Attack.
Hypothermia – this can happen to anyone. While this is normal for everyone, when the piranha fish’s body temperature dips below what it needs to survive, hypothermia can occur. Since piranha fish have a very shallow swimming ability, when they get hypothermia, they become stressed, which then makes them get weak and ill. This is also why one will sometimes find some piranha fish in the hospital after catching them in a sportfishing accident or when they get caught in a large net and are unable to swim out.
Stress – this is a difficult one. While piranha fish can eat people, it is implausible. Piranha fishes are naturally shy and do not approach other fish unless they are introduced to each other. This is good for their chances of a healthy catch. It is also why piranha fish are not great pets because they do not do well in a crowd or live in an aquarium with other fish. The only time they would interact with humans naturally is if the owner were an expert in handling exotic fishes or if they were in the swimming pool when the piranha fish was under stress.
Fear – while they do not usually attack humans, piranha fish have a habit of hiding in the shadows and may come up behind one when they are not looking. This can be a problem when one is in deep water. It can cause one to trip over and get hurt. As mentioned before, piranha fish tend to run at large when stressed. One could also get bitten by a piranha fish simultaneously as it is hiding and jumping around. They are intriguing fish, to say the least, vicious, tropical, swim in groups, and highly misunderstood.