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With their formidable teeth and terrifying reputations, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Piranhas have the rule of the rivers and have little to fear themselves. But even Piranhas would rather beat a hasty retreat rather than end up as a tasty meal for one of the most fearsome predators in the Amazon, the aptly-named Vampire Fish or Payara (Hydrolycus scomberoides).
 
These toothy terrors are extremely aggressive predatory fish that are found in the fast-moving waters and rapids of Venezuela and the Amazon Basin. They are voracious carnivores, preying on piranhas and other smaller fish aided by long, sharp fangs that can grow up to six inches long. These intimidating teeth are undoubtedly the Payara’s most noticeable feature, with two long fangs protruding from the lower jaw and growing so long that there are holes in the upper jaw for them to fit into. Unsurprisingly, they are fast and aggressive feeders, capable of eating fish that are half their own body size while growing to lengths of around 3 feet long themselves.
 
But just as it is a feared predator it its own right, it is preyed upon in turn by the true top predators in the region – humans. The Payara is a popular gamefish and is prized by sports fishermen for its fighting ability. Indeed it is prized for its meat in the markets of the Amazon and Orinoco basins, proving that there’s always someone out there with a bigger appetite…