Its teeth look like those found in humans, but it is related to a piranha and is known as a Pacu fish. It is a mystery as to how this fish from the Amazon ended up in Petaluma Pond in California. Fisherman Juan Gallo pulled it in, immediately realizing that he had something unusual on the end of his line. As Gallo pulled the fish out of the water it bit through the line, but he was able to keep it on land. He plans to donate the strange creature to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Pacu are freshwater fish that are native to the Amazon river. Although sold as exotic pets in some areas of the U.S. they are illegal in California. They do occasionally turn up in strange and unexpected places. The fish that Gallo caught was found in a location typically known as a duck pond.
The Pacu, which is related to the piranha, has a reputation of eating the testicles of male swimmers in the Amazon river. This tale came from the story of two men who perished after a Pacu ate their testes and they bled to death. It was picked up by tabloids in the U.K. and a legend was born.
The notion of an emasculating fish was also driven by an episode of the television series River Monsters, which was first broadcast in 2011 on Animal Planet. However, despite their fearsome reputation, Pacu usually eat only small fish and plants.
Gallo plans to have the fish stuffed if the state does not want it.
Photo by Nisamanee wanmoon, Wikimedia commons