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They therefore breathe air but cannot survive on land. Some species are very large indeed and the
blue whale, which can exceed 30 m in length, is the large animal to have live on earth. Superficially, the
whale looks rather like a fish, but there are important differences in its external structure; its tail consists
of a pair of broad, flat horizontal paddles (the tail of a fish is vertical) and it has a single nostril on top of
its large, broad head. The skin is smooth and shiny and beneath it lies a layer of fat (blubber). This is up
to 30 cm in thickness and serves to conserve heat and body fluids.
Piranha Fish
Piranha fish are the fiercest animals in the world. They live in the fresh water rivers of South
America, from Venezuela to Northern Argentina. These fish hunt in groups, called schools. They usually
eat other fish smaller than themselves. Sometimes Piranhas will attack and eat each other.
There are about 18 kinds of piranha fish. Only four kinds attack man. Piranhas have large head and
short thick bodies. They are usually about 20 cm (9 inches long) but one kind can be as much as 60 cm
(two feet). It lives in the Sao Francisco river from Eastern Brazil. It is one of the most dangerous fish.
The most noticeable thing about Piranha fish is the large mouth. The mouth has a lot of triangular
teeth with sharp point. The points pierce the skin of the prey. The razor-sharp edges of the teeth chop
out pieces of flesh. The teeth of the upper and lower jaws fit together like scissors. The muscles moving
the jaws are big and very powerful.