Fish species with human-like teeth named after Lord of the rings villain

Fish species with human-like teeth named after Lord of the rings villain

Source: interestingengineering

6/22/2024

Credit: Rupert Collins

A team of international researchers have discovered and identified a new species of pacu, belonging to the family of piranha that survives on a plant-based diet and has teeth just like humans.

Owing to its distinctive features, especially the fiery eye symbol, scientists have called it the villain Sauron from J.R.R Tolkien’s ‘The Lord of the Rings’ series. They named it the ‘Mylopus sauron’.

New pacu species reveal surprising differences from their piranha relatives

Pacus and piranhas are pretty closely related and have similar features, so it may be pretty difficult to distinguish between these two kinds of fish. However, both of these fishes have the capacity to change their appearance through various stages of their lives.