Rare Piranha-like Fish with ‘Human Teeth’ Caught in Oklahoma

A young boy in Oklahoma made an unusual discovery – a fish that looks a lot like a piranha but has teeth that strangely resemble human teeth concealed within its fishy mouth.

The fish, identified as a pacu, was caught by Charlie Clinton in a pond near his home on July 15. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) shared this intriguing find on their Facebook page.

Pacu is a term used for various fish species belonging to the Serrasalmidae family. These fish are originally from South America and share a close relationship with piranhas, having a similar body structure and sharp teeth.

When people keep pacus as pets and later find them too large for their tanks, they sometimes release them irresponsibly into local ponds and rivers in the U.S., according to ODWC officials.

‘Pacus are harmless to humans’

The ODWC officials mentioned that while the specific type of pacu caught by Clinton remains unidentified, pacus, in general, can grow to about 3.5 feet (1 meter) in length and weigh up to 88 pounds (40 kilograms).

Although they may resemble piranhas, pacus pose no threat to humans. The American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) explains that their unique teeth, which look surprisingly similar to human teeth, are likely a result of their diverse diet.

Your fish was caught by Charlie Clinton. He is 11.

DO NOT RELEASE YOUR PETS.
THEY ARE AN EXOTIC, INVASIVE SPECIES THAT CAN CAUSE DAMAGE TO OUR LOCAL ECOSYSTEMS. pic.twitter.com/2Vnc07sdmB

— Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (@OKWildlifeDept) July 18, 2023

These fish are omnivorous and consume a variety of food, including small fish, hard-shelled crustaceans, and the fruits and nuts of freshwater plants.

Pacu plays an essential role in their native ecosystems as a keystone species. Their waste serves as a natural fertilizer for freshwater plants and helps in spreading their seeds, according to AMNH.

However, when pacus are introduced to new environments where they don’t naturally belong, like many other invasive species, they can have harmful effects on the local ecosystems.

Dumping pets into water bodies is detrimental to the native wildlife

ODWC representatives emphasized that the act of discarding unwanted pets into water bodies can be highly detrimental to native wildlife. These exotic and invasive pacu species have the potential to cause harm to our local ecosystems.

As a precautionary measure, anglers are encouraged to take action and remove pacus from rivers and ponds whenever feasible, said ODWC officials.

Back in 2018, an 11-year-old named Kennedy Smith made a catch in an Oklahoma lake – a pacu weighing approximately 1 pound (0.5 kg).

During the attempt to take the fish off the hook, it ended up biting her grandmother’s finger. However, the human-like teeth of the pacu didn’t cause significant harm, as reported by USA Today.