Piranha

/pɪˈrɑːnə/ noun

Definition

A piranha is a small, sharp-toothed freshwater fish from South America, known for its powerful bite and meat-eating habits.

Etymology

From Portuguese 'piranha', from Tupi (an Indigenous language) 'pira' meaning 'fish' and 'anha' meaning 'tooth' or 'cutter'. The name literally means 'toothed fish' or 'cutting fish'.

Kelly Says

Piranhas’ scary reputation comes mostly from movies; many species are shy and eat plants or insects. Their real superpower is teamwork: when they do swarm, their combined bites can strip food astonishingly fast.

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