Piranhas: more than movie predators

Piranhas are a diverse group of fish, and diets vary among species: they may eat fish, invertebrates, carrion, fruits, and seeds. In the wild, they do not typically stage the movie-style “feeding frenzy” attacks on large live animals. Human bites do occur and can cluster at popular bathing sites; studies link some incidents to shallow water, nesting grounds, and parental defense. This does not mean piranhas are harmless, or that hunger or the smell of blood is always the cause.