It is a very popular aquarium fish, despite, or perhaps because of, its reputation. Two of the piranha species with particular reputations for aggressiveness are the black piranha, and the red-bellied piranha. The piranha has a reputation as a terrifying predator, because of its aggressive feeding habits and its enormous teeth. In addition to its powerful jaw and teeth that have a strong bite force, the piranha has very large lips. The jaw of the piranha is controlled by large muscles, enabling it to deliver a powerful bite. The name is appropriate, as piranha have formidable jaws of twenty or more sharp teeth. The name piranha comes from a combination of Tupi words, pira and nya, which, together, mean biting fish. Pirhana are tropical freshwater fish found in the Amazon and other rivers in South America. Probably the best known fish with big lips is the piranha, one of several related species in the Serrasalmidae family. Here are 10 species of fish with big lips. Still others think that fish with larger lips use them to attract mates. Others think that enlarged lips help fish frighten off predators. Some speculate that those fish with large lips are able to hunt or forage for food more easily than fish with smaller lips in the same environmental niche. They have developed many theories as to why fish might evolve with big lips. This feature has evolved in both freshwater and saltwater fish, and in many different climate zones.īiologists who specialize in fish are called ichthyologists. Many fish species have unusually large, prominent lips.

Ugly fish with big lips