Piranhas in Pahang? What we know about the mystery fish found at Klau Dam
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 — Piranhas are not native to Malaysia.But that distinction has come into focus after fi...
Piranhas, native to Central and South America, belong to the family Serrasalmidae and are known for their powerful jaws and sharp teeth. The red-bellied piranha, Pygocentrus nattereri, is the species most often mentioned in Malaysian sightings. Despite their fearsome reputation, red-bellied piranhas typically inflict only mild bites and are not known to attack humans in large numbers.
They are not native to Malaysia and their presence at Klau Dam in Pahang is suspected to be due to introduction. The Department of Fisheries (DOF) is investigating the matter, but has not yet confirmed the identity or origin of the fish caught. If non-native fish establish a population, they can disrupt local ecosystems.
Written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
