Subject: Piranha Lore Wanted

From: [email-masked]
Date: 8 May 1995 12:23:31 GMT

I am collecting any information that I can find on local customs, ceremony, 
and lore and legend that surround the carnivorous, South American family of 
fish (Serrasalmidae), that includes the Piranha.

I am compiling this information for a book that I am writing on Piranha and
their relatives.

I could even use some of those special local recipes for cooking these fine 
fish!

Any comment or reply is appreciated.  Email is preferred.

+---------------------------------------------------------+

Rodney W. Harper
Writer, Scientist, Philosopher, and connoisseur of exquisite fast foods.
Grand Bay, Alabama
[email-masked]
+---------------------------------------------------------+

---

From: [email-masked] (Leuzinger)
Date: Tue, 9 May 1995 18:49:08 GMT

> fish (Serrasalmidae), that includes the Piranha.

Famous is the "sopa de piranha", a soup that is supposed to give new 
strenghs to "tired" men ...
When we go to the Pantanal, and we have no better fish, we frie the 
piranha. You just have to cut up the whole side of the fish as many times 
as possible, so you break up the "spines" (?). Then it's even a delicious 
fish ...

---

From: [email-masked] (Douglas Ready)
Date: 9 May 1995 23:19:41 GMT

Here's a popular saying about piranhas in the Northeast ( maybe elsewhere,
too ):

"Where there are piranhas, the alligator swims on his back"  

I have never actually observed this behavior, but I have been assured that
if you see alligators swimming on their backs, you should stay out of the
water.  

One more:  In some parts of Brasil the term "piranha" is applied to certain
           women of ill repute.

                           Regards,
                                  Douglas Ready

---

From: [email-masked] (W. Falcone)
Date: Fri, 12 May 1995 14:11:15 +0100 (BST)

>if you see alligators swimming on their backs, you should stay out of the
Being Brasilian I can confirm the saying but I've never observed that 
behaviour in caymans either.  I'll keep watching...

>One more:  In some parts of Brasil the term "piranha" is applied to certain
In some places in Brasil I have observed men swim on their backs  (or 
whatever the dry land equivalent may be...)

Waldemar