OLogy Cards > pacu

pacu

If you came face to face with a pacu, what would you do? Never fear—the pacu may look like a big and scary fish, but it's actually quite harmless. Pacu live in the freshwater rivers that run through the subtropical Pantanal region in South America. Pacu have strong teeth that they use to munch on the seeds and nuts that fall into the water from trees along the river.

Stats

Scientific name: Piaractus mesopotamicus
Size: 1 to 2 feet long (can weigh over 65 pounds)
Habitat: South American freshwater rivers in the Pantanal region
Diet: seeds, fruits, nuts, and tiny river creatures
Characteristics: large silvery body, small scales, and a golden-yellow belly
Significance: overfishing could put pacu on the Endangered Species List

Stumper

Pacu travel and migrate in schools. This means that they:

take lots of class trips

travel together in big groups

all grow up to be very, very smart

Correct!

Schools are big groups of fish. Some fish like to be alone, but others, like pacu, swim together for protection. This way, they have a better chance of survival. Many eyes are better than just two!

Stumper

Pacu are sometimes confused with:

piranhas

goldfish

guppies

Correct!

When pacu are young, they look just like their meat-eating and aggressive relatives, piranhas. Because they look alike, predators usually leave the pacu alone.

Fact or Fiction

Pacu poop helps plants grow.

Fact

Fiction

Fact

Pacu poop really does help plants grow! Pacu eat nuts and seeds in one spot and poop them out in another. Since pacu eat and swim, they help transport seeds from place to place.

Fact or Fiction

Pacu are sometimes kept in aquariums by fish hobbyists.

Fact

Fiction

Fact

Some people even keep pacu as pets. People who raise pet pacu must have big aquariums to house these large and quick-moving fish.

You might also like...

Thousands of plants and animal species may be in danger of becoming extinct and disappearing forever.

From Madagascar to Indonesia, travel around the world with Museum scientists.

Check out these fascinating fish from Africa's lower Congo River.

Correct!

Correct!

Fact

Fact

endangered

Around the World with DNA

In Pictures: Fascinating Fish