Bizarre fish with ‘human teeth’ found in Russian pond

Russia: A strange fish 20 cm long weighting up to 240 grams with “human teeth” has been removed from a large pond by fishermen in Tula, western Russia.

The horrified fishermen delivered the bizarre creature to authorities, who identified it as a pacu, a native South American omnivorous freshwater fish and a cousin of the more carnivorous piranha.
Spokeswoman for the city Varvara Trunova said;

“The fish has been confiscated from the fisherman and sent for examination,”

Ms Trunova said the fish may have been a foreign pet deserted in the lake after it grew too large.

The pacu fish is well known for its teeth, which look more or less human. It’s not usually found outside its native South America, where fishermen are familiar with their weird looks. 

The pacu is dreaded by fishermen in its native South America for its strong jaws, which can “rip off a man’s testicles with a single bite”, earning it the nickname “The Nut Cracker.”

The species has also been discovered in rivers and ponds across the US, Europe and even Papua New Guinea after being dumped by unmindful owners.

Fishermen are advised not to release pacus back into the water because they are considered invasive.