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Fish With Human-Like Teeth And Rumoured Taste For Testicles Found In Michigan Lakes

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An unusual fish with human-like teeth and a rumoured taste for human testicles has been discovered in a lake in Michigan.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said a growing number of anglers have caught the distinctive fish, which has squarish blunt teeth used for eating nuts and seeds, in the Great Lakes.

The red-bellied pacu is a popular aquarium fish imported from South America and isn’t native to Michigan, leading authorities to suspect that people are buying them as pets then dumping them in local lakes when they get too large.

The pacu has a set of human-like teeth that can crack nuts that fall from trees, with some reports suggesting they could munch on human testicles if they came across a man bathing.

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Imported - the pacu is from South America

In Michigan, the growing number has prompted authorities to warn about the dangers of buying pets then disposing of them in lakes when they get too big.

Nick Popoff, manager of the DNR’s Aquatic Species and Regulatory Affairs Unit, said: “Pet release is almost never humane. Pets released from confined, artificial environments are poorly equipped to fend off predators and may be unable to successfully forage for food or find shelter.”

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“Those that do succeed in the wild can spread exotic diseases to native animals.

“In the worst-case scenario, released animals can thrive and reproduce, upsetting natural ecosystems to the degree that these former pets become invasive species.”

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Gnashers - the pacu has a full set of human-like teet to crack nuts and seeds (Picture: @nikflesch/Twitter)

Paige Filice of Michigan State University works with a new statewide campaign to Reduce Invasive Pet and Plant Escapes, or RIPPLE, offering solutions for aquarium and pond owners.

She said: “If your pacu has outgrown its tank or begun to feed on your other fish, rather than releasing it into a pond or stream, consider donating or trading it with another hobbyist, an environmental learning center, an aquarium or a zoo.

“You can also check with the pet store where you purchased the fish to see if they will take it back.”

(Top picture: Nisamanee Wanmoon)