Amazing Creatures: Pacu Fish
Look closely at the teeth, do they look familiar? This fish is found in the waters of South America. This fish, while related to the piranha, can actually grow much larger. They can also be found in rivers like the Amazon and is an aid to the fishing industry.
Pacu uses its teeth mainly to crush nuts and fruits, but sometimes they also eat other fish and invertebrates.
Unlike the piranha, pacu mostly only eat seeds and nuts, though can still create nasty injuries to other animals if need be.
Is Pacu fish dangerous?
“Pacu are not dangerous to humans,” says fish biologist and National Geographic explorer Zeb Hogan, who studies the animals at the University of Nevada, Reno.
Why do Pacu fish have human teeth?
It has strong, heavy grinders set in the rear of the jaw too, which are particularly important for crushing the shells of its prey. As with humans, this unique combination of teeth helps the sheepshead process a wide-ranging, omnivorous diet consisting of a variety of vertebrates, invertebrates and some plant material.
