One of Fife’s newest arrivals is to scare the living daylights out of visitors to Deep Sea World.
The North Queensferry aquarium has just acquired a black piranha and an ugly little specimen he is too it can reputedly chomp off a man’s hand with just three bites.
The fish, found in the Amazon and Orinoco river basins, can grow to 40cm (16in) long, is renowned for its aggressive behaviour and is one of very few piranha species responsible for attacks on humans.
In Surinam, villagers have lost fingers and toes and suffered deep wounds to limbs as a result of bites.
Deep Sea World’s Paul Francis said, “As it matures, the black piranha becomes more aggressive and less afraid of humans.
“We will be taking special precautions when it comes to moving, handling and, particularly, feeding them.”
The fish is one of the stars of Deep Sea World’s latest exhibition, entitled JAWS, highlighting extraordinary creatures with real bite.
Among other new arrivals are an alligator, snapping turtle and a horned frog that actually has its own set of gnashers.
