Catoprion
Pristobrycon
Pygocentrus
Pygopristis
Serrasalmus
The piranhas or pirañas (IPA pronunciation: /pʰiɻanʲjə/ (or /pʰɻanʲjə/), /pʰiɻaʲɲə/, or /pʰiɻanʲə/) are a group of omnivorous freshwater fish living in South American rivers. In Venezuelan rivers they are called caribes. They are known for their sharp teeth and an aggressive appetite for meat and flesh.
The name piranha may come from a hybrid language composed of Tupi-Guarani languages; it may be a compound word made of the components 'pirá', meaning 'fish', and 'sanha' or 'ranha', meaning 'tooth'. In Tupi, inalienably possessed nouns take the prefix 't-', 's-', or 'r-' depending on the possessor, or zero in combination; thus 'pirá'+'anha'. Alternatively, it may come from Tupi 'pirá' ('fish') and 'ánha' (devil).citation needed]