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Why men should stay clear of pacus

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By Lee Kyung-min
  • Published Jan 30, 2013 5:58 pm KST
  • Updated Jan 30, 2013 5:58 pm KST

Men should never let the pacu fish come anywhere near them, or they might find themselves with their testicles chewed off.

In Papua New Guinea, pacu's jaws are infamous for biting off “the nuts,” even those that are human.

Their brawny jaws are suited for the crushing and tearing off parts of the human body, especially the testicles, interestingly enough.

Papuan locals don't call the pacu fish "testicle” cutters for nothing. Pacu usually weighs 60 pounds (27kg). It is the bigger version of the well-known smaller piranha.

The total number of testicles forcibly claimed by pacu is unclear, but according to The Telegraph, the testicle hunters are responsible for at least two cases of death-by-castration.

Pacu is actually widely referred to as "vegetarian piranhas" because they also play the role of they help disperse the seeds of trees and the fruits of which they typically eat.