Fact Check

World-Record Piranha

Photographs show a world record-sized piranha caught in the Congo River.

Published Aug. 7, 2007

Claim:

Claim:   Photographs show a world record-sized piranha caught in the Congo River.


Status:   Undetermined.

Example:   [Collected via e-mail, June 2007]




DON'T SWIM IN THE CONGO RIVER

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TYPE OF FISH THIS IS,
AND I DON'T REALLY WANT TO FIND OUT.

The next time you're wading in your third world eco-paradise stream or lake, just remember, your place in the food chain may get re-shuffled. I bet things like this reduce the urge to go skinny dipping.

"JUST PICK HIM UP BY THE GILLS, AND BRING HIM ABOARD!"

World record size Piranha!!



Click photo to enlarge


Click photo to enlarge


Click photo to enlarge




Origins:   We

don't know details about when, where, and how the fish pictured above was captured, but the accompanying text appears to be wrong in identifying it as a piranha. This fish looks to be an African tiger fish which, although related to the piranha, is a distinctly different species and is found in a very different part of the world (i.e., Africa vs. South America).

Last updated:   7 August 2007


David Mikkelson founded the site now known as snopes.com back in 1994.