Piranha - Revision history

Ray Chason: Update infobox

2026-05-14T04:55:59Z

Update infobox

Umbire the Phantom: some copyedit

2025-08-31T22:31:44Z

some copyedit

Umbire the Phantom: /* Variants / dnh

2025-03-20T22:35:34Z

‎Variants: *dnh

Umbire the Phantom: /* Origin */ bit of trimming

2024-12-29T04:46:59Z

‎Origin: bit of trimming

Umbire the Phantom: /* xNetHack */ more info

2024-12-29T04:23:14Z

‎xNetHack: more info

Umbire the Phantom: spelling

2024-12-29T04:13:54Z

spelling

Umbire the Phantom: /* Encyclopaedia entry */ adjust so link goes to last working version (from decades ago, whew)

2024-12-29T04:13:38Z

‎Encyclopaedia entry: adjust so link goes to last working version (from decades ago, whew)

Umbire the Phantom: origin and wordsmithing

2024-12-29T04:08:12Z

origin and wordsmithing

Umbire the Phantom: formatting, copyedit, updating, detailing

2024-12-29T03:48:05Z

formatting, copyedit, updating, detailing

Netzhack: /* Encyclopaedia entry */ Soft line breaks; field separator.

2023-03-12T05:37:59Z

‎Encyclopaedia entry: Soft line breaks; field separator.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{monster
-  |difficulty=6
+  |difficulty=7
   |level=5
   |experience=56
-  |speed=12
+  |speed=18
   |AC=4
   |MR=0
@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
   |frequency=0
   |genocidable=Yes
-  |attacks=Bite 2d6
+  |attacks=Bite 2d6, Bite 2d6
   |weight=60
   |nutr=30
@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
   |resistances=None
   |resistances conveyed=None
-  |attributes={{attributes|A piranha|swim=1|amphibious=1|animal=1|slithy=1|nolimbs=1|carnivore=1|oviparous=1|notake=1|hostile=1|sgroup=1}}
+  |attributes={{attributes|A piranha|swim=1|amphibious=1|animal=1|nolimbs=1|carnivore=1|oviparous=1|notake=1|hostile=1|sgroup=1}}
   |reference=[[monst.c#line2806]]
 }}

@@ Line 70: / Line 70: @@
 ===EvilHack===
-In [[EvilHack]], piranha are given a second bite attack with the same dice and the ability to move between iron bars as in xNetHack, and their speed is similarly raised to 18. Piranha can also be generated in more areas:
+In [[EvilHack]], piranha are given a second bite attack with the same hit dice as in xNetHack, and their speed is similarly raised to 18&mdash;they can also move between iron bars.
-* Two live piranhas and some piranha corpses are generated within Gollum's Cave in [[Goblin Town]] at level creation. [[Gollum]] himself will also grudge piranhas and other monsters in an attempt to kill them and eat their [[corpse]]s.
+Piranha can also be generated in more areas:
 * Piranha can generate in the watery areas within the [[Gnomish Mines]] at level creation.
 * Three piranha are generated within the lake on the locate level of the [[Infidel quest]] at level creation.

@@ Line 53: / Line 53: @@
 ==Variants==
-Some [[variants]] of ''NetHack'' may buff piranha and make them more common.
+Some [[variants]] of ''NetHack'' may buff the piranha and make them more common.
 ===dNetHack===
-In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]], piranha can be randomly generated, but will only be placed in water tiles.
+In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]], piranha and other sea monsters can be randomly generated if a level has water and a water square is selected as a spot for random monster generation, and will be generated on such floors at level creation. Piranha use the same stats as they do in [[NetHack 3.4.3]].
 Piranha make up {{frac|6}} of randomly generated monsters in [[Elshava]] within the [[Mithardir Quest|Mithardir variant]] of the [[Chaos Quest (dNetHack)|Chaos Quest]].

@@ Line 44: / Line 44: @@
 ==Origin==
 {{wikipedia}}
-A piranha, or ''piraña'', is any of a number of freshwater fish species in the family ''Serrasalmidae'', or the subfamily ''Serrasalminae'' within the tetra family ''Characidae'' in order ''Characiformes'', that inhabit South American rivers, floodplains, lakes and reservoirs. Piranhas are indigenous to the Amazon basin, in the Orinoco, in rivers of the Guianas, in the Paraguay–Paraná, and the São Francisco River systems; most species are restricted to a single river system, but some occur in several systems, and many species can occur together. The most common aquarium piranha is the red-bellied piranha (''Pygocentrus nattereri'').
+A piranha, or ''piraña'', is any of a number of freshwater fish species in the family ''Serrasalmidae'', or the subfamily ''Serrasalminae'' within the tetra family ''Characidae'' in order ''Characiformes'', that inhabit South American rivers, floodplains, lakes and reservoirs. Piranhas are indigenous to the Amazon basin, in the Orinoco, in rivers of the Guianas, in the Paraguay–Paraná, and the São Francisco River systems; most species are restricted to a single river system, but some occur in several systems, and many species can occur together. The most common aquarium piranha is the red-bellied piranha (''Pygocentrus nattereri''). Most piranhas grow to between 12 and 35 cm (5–14 in) long, with red-bellied piranhas reaching up to 50 cm (20 in).
 Although often described as extremely predatory and mainly feeding on fish, the piranha's dietary habits vary extensively, and they will also take plant material, leading to their classification as omnivorous. Though they are not as dangerous as described in the media, piranha dwellings should be approached with caution, especially when fishing; there have been a notable amount of injuries and even rare fatalities attributed to piranhas. Various stories exist of piranhas, particularly red-bellied piranhas, that can skeletonize a human body or cattle in seconds, and many pop cultural depictions of piranha tend to portray them with similar traits.
-Depending on the exact species, most piranhas grow to between 12 and 35 cm (5–14 in) long&mdash;the largest living species, the red-bellied, can reach up to 50 cm (20 in). All piranhas have a single row of sharp teeth in both jaws, which are tightly packed and interlocking (via small cusps with minor variations in number), and are used for rapid puncture and shearing; the individual teeth are typically broadly triangular, pointed, and blade-like, appearing flat in profile. Piranhas have one of the strongest bites found in bony fishes: relative to body mass, the black piranha (''Serrasalmus rhombeus'') produces one of the most forceful bites measured in vertebrates&mdash;this extremely powerful and dangerous bite is generated by large jaw muscles that are attached closely to the tip of the jaw, conferring the piranha with a mechanical advantage that favors force production over bite speed. These strong jaws combined with finely serrated teeth make them adept at tearing flesh.
+All piranhas have a single row of sharp teeth in both jaws that are tightly packed and interlocking, and are used for rapid puncture and shearing; the individual teeth are broadly triangular, pointed, and blade-like. Piranhas have one of the strongest bites found in bony fishes, and relative to body mass the black piranha (''Serrasalmus rhombeus'') produces one of the most forceful bites measured in vertebrates&mdash;this extremely powerful and dangerous bite is generated by large jaw muscles that are attached closely to the tip of the jaw, favoring force production over bite speed; these strong jaws combined with finely serrated teeth make them adept at tearing flesh.
-Piranhas vary extensively in ecology and behavior depending on exact species&mdash;despite their reputation as ferocious predators that hunt their prey in schools, recent research suggests that they are timid fish that school for protection from their own predators, such as cormorants, caimans and dolphins. Piranhas lay their eggs in pits dug during the breeding season and swim around to protect them; newly hatched young feed on zooplankton, and eventually move on to small fish once large enough. They can be bought as pets in some areas, but are illegal in many parts of the United States and in the Philippines; piranha are also popular as food, being both eaten as a subsistence catch by fishers and sold at market, but are more often considered a nuisance by fishers because they steal bait, eat catches, damage fishing gear, and may bite when accidentally caught.
+Piranhas vary extensively in ecology and behavior depending on exact species&mdash;despite their reputation as ferocious predators that hunt their prey in schools, recent research suggests that they are timid fish that school for protection from their own predators, such as cormorants, caimans and dolphins. Piranhas lay their eggs in pits dug during the breeding season, and swim around to protect them; newly hatched young feed on zooplankton, and eventually move on to small fish once large enough. Piranha can be bought as pets in some areas, but are illegal in many parts of the United States and in the Philippines; they are also popular as food, being both eaten as a subsistence catch by fishers and sold at market, but are more often considered a nuisance by fishers because they steal bait, eat catches, damage fishing gear, and may bite when accidentally caught.
 ==Variants==

@@ Line 62: / Line 62: @@
 ===xNetHack===
 In [[xNetHack]], piranha are given a second bite attack with the same dice and the ability to move between [[iron bars]], and their speed is raised to 18. They can also devour corpses, similar to [[ghoul]]s and [[purple worm]]s.
 ===EvilHack===

@@ Line 73: / Line 73: @@
 In [[SlashTHEM]], up to five piranha can be generated in the river of the Creek Town map for [[Minetown]] at level creation.
-==Encyclopaedia entry==
+==Encyclopedia entry==
 {{encyclopedia|They live in "schools." Many times they will wait for prey to come to the shallow water of the river. Then the large group of piranhas will attack. These large groups are able to kill large animals ... Their lower teeth fit perfectly into the spaces of their upper teeth, creating a tremendous vice-like bite ... Piranhas are attracted to any disturbance  in the water.
 |[ [https://web.archive.org/web/20021127185025/http://www.animalsoftherainforest.com:80/ http://www.animalsoftherainforest.com/] ]

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 }}
-A '''piranha''', {{monsym|piranha}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. The piranha is a small, [[carnivorous]] and [[slithy]] [[sea monster]] that is [[oviparous]] and capable of [[swimming]], and shares its glyph with the far more deadly [[kraken]].
+A '''piranha''', {{monsym|piranha}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. The piranha is a small, [[carnivorous]] and [[slithy]] [[sea monster]] that is [[oviparous]] and capable of [[swimming]], and shares the same glyph as the [[kraken]].
 A piranha has a single bite attack.
@@ Line 37: / Line 37: @@
 ==Strategy==
-Piranha are not generally regarded as a significant threat, and can easily be dispatched by the time most heroes can encounter one.
+Piranha are not generally regarded as a significant threat outside of potentially mistaking a kraken for one, and can easily be dispatched by the time most heroes can encounter them.
 ==History==
 The piranha first appears in [[NetHack 3.3.0]].
 ==Variants==
@@ Line 51: / Line 61: @@
 ===xNetHack===
-In [[xNetHack]], piranha are given a second bite attack with the same dice and the ability to move between [[iron bars]], and their speed is raised to 18.
+In [[xNetHack]], piranha are given a second bite attack with the same dice and the ability to move between [[iron bars]], and their speed is raised to 18. They can also devour corpses, similar to [[ghoul]]s and [[purple worm]]s.
 ===EvilHack===

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 }}
-The '''piranha''', {{monsym|piranha}}, is a [[sea monster]] in [[NetHack]].  It shares its glyph with the far more deadly [[kraken]], but is not generally regarded as a significant threat.
+A '''piranha''', {{monsym|piranha}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. The piranha is a small, [[carnivorous]] and [[slithy]] [[sea monster]] that is [[oviparous]] and capable of [[swimming]], and shares its glyph with the far more deadly [[kraken]].
-{{upcoming|NetHack 3.7.0|Piranha now have 18 speed and a second bite attack, which is identical to the first one.}}
+A piranha has a single bite attack.
 ==Encyclopaedia entry==
 {{encyclopedia|They live in "schools." Many times they will wait for prey to come to the shallow water of the river. Then the large group of piranhas will attack. These large groups are able to kill large animals ... Their lower teeth fit perfectly into the spaces of their upper teeth, creating a tremendous vice-like bite ... Piranhas are attracted to any disturbance  in the water.
 |[ http://www.animalsoftherainforest.com/ ]
 }}
+==References==
-{{stub}}
+<references/>
 [[Category:Monsters]]