Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Underwater observations of piranhas in western Brazil

  • Published:
Environmental Biology of Fishes Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Synopsis

The behaviour of three piranha species,Serrasalmus marginatus, S. spilopleura, andPygocentrus nattereri, and their prey fishes was studied underwater in the Pantanal region, Mato Grosso, Brazil. General habits, predatory tactics, feeding behaviour, and social interactions while foraging, as well as defensive tactics of prey fishes were observed.S. marginatus is solitary whereas the other two species live in shoals; their agonistic behaviour varies accordingly, the simplest being displayed by the solitary species. Predatory tactics and feeding behaviour also vary:S. spilopleura shows the most varied diet and highly opportunistic feeding strategy, which includes aggressive mimicry. The solitaryS. marginatus, besides fin and scale-eating, occasionally cleans larger individuals ofP. nattereri. Several cichlid species display defensive tactics clearly related to piranha attacks: tail protecting, watching, and confronting the predator are the most commonly observed behaviours. Piranhas seem to strongly influence use of habitat, social structure, and foraging mode of the fish communities.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References cited

  • Brockmann, H.J. & J.P. Jailman. 1976. Fish cleaning symbiosis: notes on juvenile angelfishes (Pomacanthus, Chaetodontidae) and comparisons with other species. Z. Tierpsychol. 42: 129–138.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chinery, M. 1979. Killers of the wild. Salamander Books Ltd., London. 224 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Curio, E. 1976. The ethology of predation. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. 249 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeMartini, E.E. & J.A. Coyer. 1981. Cleaning and scale-eating in juveniles of the kyphosid fishes,Hermosilla azurea andGirella nigricans. Copeia 1981: 785–789.

  • Dozier, T.A. 1976. Dangerous sea creatures. Time-Life Films, Inc. and Vineyard Books, Inc. (no place). 128 pp.

  • Edmunds, M. 1974. Defence in animals: a survey of anti-predator defences. Longman, Harlow. 357 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ehrlich, P.R. 1975. The population biology of coral reef fishes. Ann. Rev. Ecol. Systemat. 6: 211–247.

    Google Scholar 

  • Endler, J.A. 1986. Defense against predators. pp. 109–134.In: M.E. Feder & G.V. Lauder (ed.) Predator-Prey Relationships: Perspectives and Approaches From the Study of Lower Vertebrates, University of Chicago Press, Chicago.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fink, W.L. 1988. Evolutionary biology of piranhas. pp. 13–14.In: G.H. Dalrymple, W.F. Loftus & F.S. Bernardino, Jr. (ed.) Wildlife in the Everglades and Latin America wetlands, Proc. 1st. Everglades Nat. Park Symp., Fl. Int. Univ., Miami.

    Google Scholar 

  • Foxx, R.M. 1972. Attack preferences of the red-bellied piranha (Serrasalmus nattereri). Anim. Behav. 20: 280–283.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldman, B. & F.H. Talbot. 1976. Aspects of the ecology of reef fishes. pp. 125–154.In: O.A. Jones & R. Endean (ed.) Biology and Geology of Coral Reefs, vol. 3, Biology 2, Academic Press, New York.

  • Gorlick, D.L., P.D. Atkin & G.S. Losey, Jr. 1978. Cleaning stations was water holes, garbage dumps, and sites for the evolution of reciprocal altruism? Amer. Natur. 112: 341–353.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goulding, M. 1980. The fishes and the forest: explorations in Amazonian natural history. University of California Press, Berkeley. 280 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Helfman, G.S. 1981. Twilight activities and temporal structure in a freshwater fish community. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 38: 1405–1420.

    Google Scholar 

  • Helfman, G.S. 1986. Behavioral responses of prey fish during predator-prey interactions. 135–156.In: M.E. Feder & G.V. Lauder (ed.) Predator-Prey Relationships: Perspectives and Approaches from the Study of Lower Vertebrates, University of Chicago Press, Chicago.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hobson, E.S. 1971. Cleaning symbiosis among California inshore fishes. U.S. Fish. Bull. 69: 491–523.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keenleyside, M.H.A. 1979. Diversity and adaptation in fish behaviour. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. 208 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lehner, P.N. 1979. Handbook of ethological methods. Garland STPM Press, New York. 403 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leviton, A.E., R.H. Gibbs, Jr., E. Heal & C.E. Dawson. 1985. Standards in herpetology and ichthyology: Part I. Standard symbolic codes for institutional resource collections in herpetology and ichthyology. Copeia 1985: 802–832.

  • Losey, G.S., Jr. 1971. Communication between fishes in cleaning symbiosis. pp. 45–76.In: T.C. Cheng (ed.) Aspects of the Biology of Symbiosis, University Park Press, Baltimore.

    Google Scholar 

  • Losey G.S., Jr. 1978. The symbiotic behavior of fishes. pp. 1–31.In: D.I. Mostofsky (ed.) The Behavior of Fish and Other Aquatic Animals, Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lucas, J.R. & K.A. Benkert. 1983. Variable foraging and cleaning behavior by juvenile leatherjackets,Oligoplites saurus (Carangidae). Estuaries 6: 247–250.

    Google Scholar 

  • Machado-Allison, A. & C. Garcia. 1986. Food habits and morphological changes during ontogeny in three serrasalmine fish species of the Venezuelan floodplains. Copeia 1986: 193–196.

  • Malta, J.C.O. 1982. The argulids (Crustacea: Branchiura) from the Brazilian Amazon. Aspects of ecology ofDolops discoidalis Bouvier, 1899 andDolops bidentata Bouvier, 1 Acta Amazonica 12: 521–528. (In Portuguese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Markl, H. 1972. Aggression und Beuteverhalten bei Piranhas (Serrasalminae, Characidae). Z. Tierpsychol. 30: 190–216.

    Google Scholar 

  • Menezes, N.A. 1988. Aquatic life in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso, Brazil, with special reference to fishes. p. 12.In: G.H. Darlymple, W.F. Loftus & F.S. Bernardino, Jr. (ed.) Wildlife in the Everglades and Latin American Wetlands, Proc. 1st. Everglades Nat. Park Symp., Fl. Int. Univ., Miami.

    Google Scholar 

  • McKaye, K.R. 1977. Competition for breeding sites between the cichlid fishes of Lake Jiloā, Nicaragua. Ecology 58: 291–302.

    Google Scholar 

  • Migdalsky, E.C. & G.S. Fichter. 1976. The fresh and saltwater fishes of the world. Greenwich House, New York. 315 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Myers, G.S. (ed.) 1972. The piranha book. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, 128 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nico, L.G. & D.C. Taphorn. 1986. Those bitin' fish from South America. Trop. Fish. Hobb. 34: 24–27, 30–34, 36, 40–41, 56–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nico, L.G. & D.C. Taphorn. 1988. Food habits of piranhas in the low llanos of Venezuela. Biotropic 20: 311–321.

    Google Scholar 

  • Northcote, T.G., M.S. Archifa & O. Froehlich. 1987. Fin-feeding by the piranha (Serrasalmus spilopleura Kner): the cropping of a novel renewable resource. Proc. 5th Congr. Europ. Ichthyol., Stockholm 1985: 133–143.

  • Northcote, T.G., R.G. Northcote & M.S. Arcifa. 1986. Differential cropping of the caudal fin lobes of prey fishes by the piranha,Serrasalmus spilopleura Kner. Hydrobiologia 141: 199–205.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pitcher, T.J. 1986. Functions of shoaling behaviour in teleosts. pp. 294–337.In: T.J. Pitcher (ed.) The Behaviour of Teleost Fishes, Croom Helm, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • POtts, G.W. 1983. The predatory tactics ofCaranx melampygus and the response of its prey. pp. 181–191.In: D.L.G. Noakes, D.G. Lindquist, G.S. Helfman & J.A. Ward (ed.) Predators and Prey in Fishes, Dr W. Junk Publishers, The Hague.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prance, G.T. & G.B. Schaller. 1982. Preliminary study of some vegetation types of the Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil. Britonia 34: 228–251.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ribbink, A.J. 1984. The feeding behaviour of a cleaner and scale, skin and fin eater from Lake Malawi (Docimodus evelynae; Pisces, Cichlidae). Neth. J. Zool. 34: 182–196.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ribbink, A.J., B.A. Marsh, A.C. Marsh, A.C. Ribbink & B.J. Sharp. 1983. A preliminary survey of the cichlid fishes of rocky habitats in Lake Malawi. S. Afr. J. Zool. 18: 149–310.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ringler, N.H. 1983. Variation in foraging tactics of fishes. pp. 159–171.In: D.L.G. Noakes, D.G. Lindquist, G.S. Helfman & J.A. Ward (ed.) Predators and Prey in Fishes, Dr W. Junk Publishers, The Hague.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sale, P.E. 1980. The ecology of fishes on coral reefs. Oceanogr. Mar. Biol. Ann. Rev. 18: 367–421.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sazima, I. 1983. Scale-eating in characoids and other fishes. Env. Biol. Fish. 9: 87–101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sazima, I. 1986. Similarities in feeding behaviour between some marine and freshwater fishes in two tropical communities. J. Fish Biol. 29: 53–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sazima, I. 1988. Territorial behaviour in a scale-eating and a herbivorous neotropical characiform fish. Revta. bras. Biol. 48: 189–194.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sazima, I. & S.A. Guimarāes. 1987. Scavenging on human corpses as a source for stories about man-eating piranhas. Env. Biol. Fish. 20: 75–77.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sazima, I. & J.P. Pombal, Jr. 1988. Fin-clipping by the piranha,Serrasalmus spilopleura, on the Brazilian eartheater,Geophagus brasiliensis. Revta. bras. Biol. 48: 477–483. (In Portuguese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sazima, I. & C. Zamprogno. 1985. Use of water hyacinths as shelter, foraging place, and transport by young piranhasmSerrasalmus spilopleura. Env. Biol. Fish. 12: 237–240.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schaller, G.B. & P.G. Crawshaw, Jr. 1982. Fishing behavior of Paraguayan caiman (Caiman crocodilus). Copeia 1982: 66–72.

  • Shellis, R.P. & B.K.B. Berkowitz. 1976. Observations on the dental anatomy of piranhas (Characidae) with special reference to tooth structure. J. Zool., Lond. 180: 69–84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sire, J. 1982. Régénération des écailles d' un cichlidé,Hemichromis bimaculatus (Gill) (Téléostéen, Perciforme). I. Morphogenèse, structure et minéralisation. Ann. Scien. Natur. Zool. 4: 153–169.

    Google Scholar 

  • Suckdorff, A. 1985. Pantanal, a lost paradise? Ed. Rio Gráfica & Ed. Siciliano, Rio de Janeiro. 160 pp. (In Portuguese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sulak, K.J. 1975. Cleaning behaviour in the centrarchid fishesLepomis macrochirus andMicropterus salmoides. Anim. Behav. 23: 331–334.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winemiller, K.O. 1989a. Ontogenetic diet shifts and resource partitioning among piscivorous fishes in the Venezuelan llanos. Env. Biol. Fish. 26: 177–199.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winemiller, K.O. 1989b. Caudal eyespots as deterrents against fin predation in the Neotropical cichlidAstronotus ocellatus. Copeia. (in press).

  • Zbinden, K. 1973. Verhaltensstudien anSerrasalmus nattereri. Rev. Suisse Zool. 80: 521–542.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, 13081, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil

    Ivan Sazima

  2. Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, 78098, Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil

    Francisco A. Machado

Authors
  1. Ivan Sazima
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Francisco A. Machado
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sazima, I., Machado, F.A. Underwater observations of piranhas in western Brazil. Environ Biol Fish 28, 17–31 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00751026

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00751026

Key words

Search

Navigation