Pacu
INFORMATION
Pacu
Pacu (Portuguese pronunciation: [paˈku]) is a common name used to refer to several species of omnivorous South American freshwater serrasalmid fish related to piranhas. Pacu and piranha do not have similar teeth, the main difference being jaw alignment; piranha have pointed, razor-sharp teeth in a pronounced underbite, whereas pacu have squarer, straighter teeth and a less severe underbite or a slight overbite.[1] Pacu, unlike piranha, mainly feed on plant material and not flesh or scales. Additionally, the pacu can reach much larger sizes than piranha, up to 1.08 m (3 ft 6+1⁄2 in) in total length and 40 kg (88 lb) in weight
Native distribution and habitat
Pacus are native to tropical and subtropical South America. They inhabit rivers, lakes, floodplains and flooded forests in the Amazon, Orinoco, São Francisco River and Río de la Plata Basins, as well as rivers in the Guianas. Here they form part of the highly diverse Neotropical fish fauna. Their habitat preferences varies significantly depending on the exact species. Several species are migratory.
Description
Pacu fish are much larger than their famous relatives, the piranhas.
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Maximum Length: They can grow up to 1.08 meters (3.5 feet) long.
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Maximum Weight: Fully grown adults can weigh up to 40 kilograms (88 pounds).
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In Thailand: The most common species found in fishing ponds, like the Red-Bellied Pacu, average around 20 kilograms.
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