Three deadly goliath tigerfish have gone on display at Deep Sea World, North Queensferry.
Capable of growing up to 1.3 metres in length and armed with razor-sharp teeth, these ferocious fish are among the world’s fastest freshwater species and hunt in packs.
Found in the Congo River system in southern Africa, the fish have been blamed for a number of attacks on humans and are renowned for their speed and ferocity.
This group is believed to be the first to go on display in Scotland and are already causing a stir among staff and visitors alike.
Deep Sea World’s Paul Francis said, “Although our trio are relatively young and still have a lot of growing to do they’re already extremely aggressive.
“Each fish has this extraordinary set of needle-sharp, interlocking teeth and they are definitely Africa’s answer to the South American piranha.”
He added, “One of their most awesome traits is that they tend to hunt in packs, like piranhas do, but they are up to six times their size.”
A school of juveniles can tackle animals of almost any size, including any land animals that stray too close to the water’s edge.
Adults tend to travel in smaller groups of four or five, but they are no less dangerous.
Even an individual can take down prey as large as itself.
The fish are so renowned that they recently featured in a series on the National Geographic channel called Monster Fish Of The Congo.
The largest specimen ever recorded measured nearly five feet in length and weighed 154 pounds.
According to locals it is the only fish not to fear crocodiles and it has even been known to eat smaller specimens.
The goliath tigerfish are the latest additions to Deep Sea World’s Jaws feature, which highlights some of the planet’s most fearsome predators.