A French man fishing in a river in the Alsace found a remarkable fish dangling on the end of his line as he reeled in his catch earlier this afternoon - a piranha.

The species is native to the warm rivers in the Amazon basin and scientists are at a loss to explain the appearance of the piranha in a small, cool French river. However, experts believe the fish may have been released into the wild by an aquarium holder.

Piranhas have a deadly reputation although they are not quite as deadly as folklore would have it. The species have unique dentition - a single row of extremely sharp teeth in both jaws. Piranhas are omnivores and their teeth are well-suited for tearing flesh. However, they do not school to attack but for protection.

They are hunted by subsistence fishermen in the Amazon basin and are considered a nuisance as they steal bait and fish that have not yet been reeled in. Piranhas have been known to bite people venturing into their territory and regularly bite fishermen attempting to handle them.