06-27-2006, 04:18 PM
You shouldn't be concerned too much about the Pacu that are thriving in that area. One big difference between Pacu and Piranha you ask? Pacu are Vegitarian, so you don't have to worry about them nipping your extremeties off. Another big difference is the teeth.
![[Image: pacum1.jpg]](http://www.fish.state.pa.us/Fish/images/pages/qa/fish/pacum1.jpg)
These are Pacu Teeth. notice that there are not pointed and jagged.
![[Image: teeth.jpg]](http://www.pueblozoo.org/archives/sep01/images/teeth.jpg)
You can see the obvious difference in their teeth. These are Piranha teeth
Keep in mind, Pacu and Piranha both are very timmid. The chance of getting attacked even by a Piranha are very small. Check out this link:
[url "http://www.wemjournal.org/wmsonline/?request=get-document&issn=1080-6032&volume=014&issue=04&page=0249"]http://www.wemjournal.org/wmsonline/?request=get-document&issn=1080-6032&volume=014&issue=04&page=0249[/url]
This link describes the rareity of actual attacks from a piranha, and the near non-existance of fatal attacks. Keep in mind this info is for Piranha's, not Pacu. There are NO "official" recordings that I could find about a Pacu even attacking a human. However, i'm sure they have for territorial reasons. After all, they are a fish. But it's no different than getting nipped by a Bluefish while swimming in the surf or something along those lines. Thier teeth are designed for plants, and are far from designed to create a devistating blow if bitten. Infact, as timid as the Pacu are, most will probably never encounter one anyways. Consider the Pacu a teethy version of a Carp. [cool]
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These are Pacu Teeth. notice that there are not pointed and jagged.
You can see the obvious difference in their teeth. These are Piranha teeth
Keep in mind, Pacu and Piranha both are very timmid. The chance of getting attacked even by a Piranha are very small. Check out this link:
[url "http://www.wemjournal.org/wmsonline/?request=get-document&issn=1080-6032&volume=014&issue=04&page=0249"]http://www.wemjournal.org/wmsonline/?request=get-document&issn=1080-6032&volume=014&issue=04&page=0249[/url]
This link describes the rareity of actual attacks from a piranha, and the near non-existance of fatal attacks. Keep in mind this info is for Piranha's, not Pacu. There are NO "official" recordings that I could find about a Pacu even attacking a human. However, i'm sure they have for territorial reasons. After all, they are a fish. But it's no different than getting nipped by a Bluefish while swimming in the surf or something along those lines. Thier teeth are designed for plants, and are far from designed to create a devistating blow if bitten. Infact, as timid as the Pacu are, most will probably never encounter one anyways. Consider the Pacu a teethy version of a Carp. [cool]
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