The Man Eaters

When it comes to judging the fear factor of a fish, it’s tough to over-rate the man eaters—what could be worse than getting eaten by Nemo? Not much. So you’re sure to want to hear about the top 10 man-eating fish on Planet Earth.

10. Piranha – Why does this much-feared man eater rank so low on the list? Because according to scientists, piranha are scavengers that rarely attack living humans. (Most verified attacks are from pet shop owners who were cleaning fish tanks). Still, if a frenzied school of jaws like these doesn’t get your adrenaline pumping, you’re probably dead already, anyway.

9. Guangdong Catfish – Furong Reservoir in Husad, China, has been known for drownings and mysterious disappearances. It wasn’t until 2007, however, that the blame was placed on the Guangdong catfish. A nine foot long specimen was found and reportedly, had human remains in its stomach. Some believe it’s a hoax, but no one knows for sure.

8. Doctor Fish – This one doesn’t kill you, but it sure does creep you out. Also known as the “nibble fish,” this inch-long man eater can be found in some river basins in Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran. People intentionally bathe with it, allowing the fish to take small bites out of the skin—which is considered a treatment for psoriasis.

7. Arapaima Gigas – This massive predator of the Amazon basin can grow to nearly 15 feet and is blamed for several drowning, including a pair in Kuala Berang, where the bodies were never recovered.

6. Bluefish – Though they don’t bite people on purpose (except perhaps when we’re trying to remove hooks from their jaw) bluefish take a chunk or two out of bathers quite regularly, and are responsible for many attacks that are blamed on sharks. In 2010 the beach at Hither Hills State Park in Mantauk, NY, had to be closed after several people were bitten by frenzied blues, and past-President George H. W. Bush carries a scar on the back of his hand from a bluefish bite.

5. Goonch Catfish - Living along the Great Kali River between India and Nepal, these fish are believed to have become accustomed to eating human flesh because of area traditions, which include burning corpses on funeral pyres over the river. The goonch is blamed for three human deaths plus the drowning of a buffalo, since making its debut as a known man eater in 1998.

4. Barracuda – Many verified ‘cuda attacks are on record, including a 2010 incident in which a 14 year old Florida girl required 41 stitches. You might think barracuda aren’t full-blow killers, but you’d be wrong; many people have died from them—but on the other side of the fork, after getting ciguatera poisoning, which is carried by many large specimens found near coral reefs.

3. Bull Shark – The bull can travel up rivers into freshwater, as well as through salty seas. It’s been verified responsible for about one attack every other year in the United States, with five verified fatalities from 2000 to 2011.

2. Tiger Shark – These denizens of the deep were responsible for nine verified attacks the US waters during the 90’s—and all were fatal.

1. Great White Shark – Every year the majority of shark attacks recorded world-wide, which averages about 60, are great whites. Thanks to the Jaws legacy this fish strikes fear into the hearts of swimmers from coast to coast, but it’s a much-misunderstood man eater. White sharks rarely attack humans on purpose (often they mistake surfboards for seals), and most of the time, after performing a hit-and-run bite they leave the scene without a repeat attack.



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