One of the most scary catfish species I've ever seen. Massive strong body with creepy appearance and the fact that this fish attacks several humans which gave this fish bad fame around it's habitats in local community. Definitely deserves to the title of "Giant Devil Catfish". Surely one of the fishes which makes impression for all your life if you are able to catch it and meet this beast in person.
Before you will see the video a short information about this fish.
The Goonch Catfish or Giant Devil Catfish (Latin: Bagarius yarrelli, Sykes, 1839)
Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Siluriformes (Catfish)
Family: Sisoridae (Sisorid catfishes)
Genus: Bagarius
Species: B. yarrelli
Distribution
Asia: Indus and Ganges drainages, most of southern India east of the western Ghats, Mekong basin, Xe Bangfai basin (Laos) to Indonesia.
Size / Weight
Max length : 200 cm;
common length : 130 cm;
common weight: 60 kg;
max weight: 100 kg;
Environment
Freshwater; demersal; potamodromous
Tropical: 23 - 28 °C
Short description
Pelvic-fin origin usually behind the base of the last dorsal ray; adipose-fin origin in front or above the anal-fin origin. Elongate neural spines 2-5, slender; abdominal vertebrae 21-24. Eye circular, diameter 10-13 times in HL; head width 4.3-4.7 times in SL.
Biology
Adults occur in large rivers on the bottom, even with swift current. They never enter small streams. Found among boulders, often in the white water of the rapids where it apparently is indifferent to the strong current. Feed primarily on prawns but will take small fishes and aquatic insects. Spawn in rivers before the rainy season. Migrate in schools. Reported to migrate to follow its prey. Also reported that individuals follow Catlocarpio siamensis during the upstream migration. Apparently the main upstream migration begins close to the peak of flood when the current is very strong and the water is turbid. Sold fresh in markets. Not a highly esteemed food fish, because its fibrous flesh spoils rapidly and can cause illness.
Supporting source: http://www.fishbase.org
Video
Alternative Video
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@edekadam/fish-facts-9-jeremy-wade-feat-the-muskie-video
@edekadam/a-beautiful-time-of-my-life-ichthyology-studies-salmonid-spawning-workshops
@edekadam/fish-facts-8-jeremy-wade-feat-the-largetooth-sawfish-video
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