a-Park-Lypse is approaching.
While U.S. waterways have been overrun with invasive fish lately, a Texas angler caught a South American relative of the piranha with “human teeth” in a local lake on Sunday.
The fish, called a pacu, was caught in Lake Meredith in Sanford and is currently at the Lake Meredith Aquatic Wildlife Museum, which posted a video of the fish. Facebook intruder.
According to the post, pacu live in the freshwater areas of South America and are closely related to the carnivorous piranha, but are actually herbivorous.
The red-and-silver panfish lives on a diet of nuts and berries, which is why its teeth “resemble human teeth,” the article says.
Wildlife museum officials believe the pacu was “released into Meredith by someone who was likely keeping it as a pet.”
Unfortunately, the species, which can grow to 6.5 inches long and weigh 88 pounds, quickly outgrows its tank, leading owners to release them into the wild.
In fact, pacu were first introduced into the world through “aquarium stocking” in the 1980s. According to the U.S. Department of AgricultureIt is possible that some individuals may have escaped from aquaculture facilities.
Since then, the herbivorous invaders have been captured in 47 states. Last August, an 11-year-old boy in Oklahoma caught a pacu in a pond behind his parents' home.
Fortunately, this species does not form a breeding population here and the overall impact of the pacu release is currently unknown.
However, the organism has also invaded Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Mexico, China, the Philippines and other parts of Asia.
seed A special feature was also organized. In an episode of the Animal Planet show “River Monsters,” It was condemned For murder They kill unsuspecting swimmers by biting their genitals.
Fortunately, no such attacks have been reported in the United States.
