Random Most Terrifying Creatures Found In Amazon River (15 items)

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  (#13) Pacus

  The pacu is a type of fish closely related to the piranha, though it grows to a far greater size. But the real nightmares begin with its mouth. Its chompers bear an uncanny resemblance to human teeth. Those pearly whites are there for a reason: the fish is an omnivore, so it often chows down on tough food, including nuts.

  Pacus aren't necessarily aggressive, but their teeth can cause an uncomfortable amount of pain.
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  (#9) Electric Eels

  Though it's commonly known as the electric eel, this fearsome creature is actually a knifefish. Due to its distinctive physiology, it is capable of producing electricity from its organs. This electric shock can reach intensities of up to 600 volts for several milliseconds. While this can't kill you, it can deliver as much pain as a stun gun and cause a numbing sensation.

  And this eel can grow up to eight feet long. It's definitely not an animal you would want to come across.
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  (#10) Red bellied piranha

  • Pygocentrus nattereri

  Piranhas arguably have the worst reputation of any fish on Earth. These frenzied killers are capable of tearing flesh off of any animal in mere minutes. But most of the time, they're shy creatures that lurk in the basins of the Amazon River, where they feed mostly on other fish and insects.

  Still, there's no denying their scary image and needle-sharp teeth.
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  (#1) Tyrant King Leeches

  The tyrant king leech may only be three inches long, but it's plenty terrifying. It uses its huge teeth to saw into flesh to create holes for it to feed. Worse yet, it seems to intentionally aim for mammals' orifices, including the eyes, genitalia, and rectum.

  Once inside its prey's body, the leech can survive and feed for weeks.
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  (#2) Amazonian Giant Centipedes

  The Amazonian giant centipede is one of the largest insects, which directly correlates to its creepy factor: an adult giant centipede can measure up to a foot long. This gargantuan critter can be found scurrying around the forest floor near the Amazon River, where it hunts lizards, amphibians, and small mammals living near the water.

  Besides its nightmare-inducing size, it can also inject venom into its victims using sharp claws on its head.
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  (#14) Giant Otters

  The giant otter is the largest member of its species in the world, and one of the biggest mammals in South America. It lives exclusively in the Amazon River and the surrounding waterways. While it may not look particularly threatening, this apex predator is one of the most efficient killers in the rainforest.

  Believe it or not, this otter is capable of killing and eating anacondas and caimans. Groups of giant otters sometimes work as a team to latch onto the back of a caiman's neck, an advantageous spot where predators can't be reached by the caiman's sharp teeth. Then they just harass the caiman until it wears itself out from lactic acid buildup, allowing the otters to drag it onto the shore and eat it alive.

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