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Scavenging has been observed, both as a natural occurrence and by provisioning with decomposing fish. When feeding on fish carcass, the species were observed to take turns, some individuals apparently having precedence over others. Readiness to converge on the feeding movements of other fishes or those which carried a prey organism was readily observed in this piranha species (Ref. 9080). Larvae and juveniles hide and feed within the root tangle of water hyacinths, which also act as a dispersal agent during floods (Ref. 40399). Larvae feed on microscopic crustaceans and small aquatic insects; very small size juveniles (about 1.2 cm) already clip fins of other fishes (Ref. 40399). Juveniles and adults feed mostly on fins and muscle portions of fishes (Ref. 9080, 40398). Adults may scavenge on dead mammals, including humans (Ref. 40400). Attacks on humans with bite outbreaks may occur in dammed portions of rivers during the breeding season, related to brood protection by the spawning adults (Vidal & Sazima, 2003). |