In the waters of the world's oceans, there are many unique creatures of Mother Nature and evolutionary aunts. Among them, giants such as blue whales or great white sharks receive special attention. But freshwater residents can boast of their huge representation.
Here's a small list of giant fish, from a large database of fishermen and scientists, about the size of freshwater fish. They contain both catches caught with fishing rods and caught by other means, including nets and harpoons.
Of course, this list began with giant catfish caught in the Mekong River.
Giant catfish
The recorded weight of this fish is 292.64 kilograms and its habitat is Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos. Sturgeon.
Catfish Rita lizard
It lives in South Asia and is found in Myanmar and Thailand, where it usually lives only in large rivers, such as the Salween River, from where it is caught.
Som Half Lotus
Another type of catfish is the semi-catfish or Mistus Irrawaddy. This giant catfish is in great demand for sport fishing among fishermen, and the record holder is a fish weighing 52.16 kilograms, caught with a fishing rod in Thailand.
It has an elongated body, a large caudal fin and a flat head. Males have a tapered genitals, in females it is flattened. The color is grey-brown and the belly is lighter, which can reach more than 1.5 meters.
Giant freshwater stingray
These giant fish include stingrays, only freshwater fish, which is called the giant freshwater stingray, or the urojimnus leafy fish by ichthyologists.
It is found in the major rivers and estuaries of Southeast Asia and Borneo. It can reach a diameter of 2.2 meters and a weight of up to 300 kg. The upper part is grey-brown and the lower part is light. There are broad dark stripes below the pectoral fins.
Ichthyologists believe that freshwater stingrays may be the largest freshwater fish on Earth. Food includes small fish, crustaceans and molluscs. The record holder was captured with a weight of 299.8 kg and a diameter of 2.18 meters.
Giant babel
Another giant is the giant Babel, or Catocapio Simmons as it is called by ichthyologists. Better known is the giant Siamese carp.
It lives in pairs deep in the depths of the Mekong and Indochina Chao Phraya rivers. When flooding, you can find them in the estuaries and lakes of these rivers. They have a calming character and feed on various algae, phytoplankton, and sometimes the fruits of plants.
It is believed that this type of carp can reach a weight of 300 kg and a length of 1.5 meters. The record holder is a fish caught in Thailand weighing 126.6 kg.
carp
Another giant of the family is the carp or carp, which ichthyologists call the Cypriot carp. Native to Europe and Asia, the carp dates back 200 years, and over the years, it has been domesticated and introduced to 59 countries.
Humpback whale Maher
The hunchbacked Maher, or Hypselobarbus musullah as ichthyologists call it, is a great representative of the carp family, which has a broad body compressed from the sides and a steep back profile that forms a clear hump.
It can reach a length of 2 meters and a weight of 100 kg. The record holder was a fish caught in a net 183 centimeters long and weighing 93 kilograms. It is endemic to the West Indies and inhabits the isolated depths of the Krishna and Godavari rivers. Omnivores feed on fish, crustaceans, molluscs, frogs, fruits, and algae.
Ordinary Taimen
The carp Hucho Taimen is the largest representative of salmon, reaching a length of up to 2 meters and weighing more than 100 kilograms, the record holder is a fish weighing 104.15 kilograms and 210 centimeters long.
It lives in the rivers and flowing cold-water lakes of China, Mongolia, and our vast homeland from the Urals to the Far East. It lives in the Yenisei, Oka, Amur, Yana and other rivers. Unlike the rest of the family, it never goes to sea. It is believed that he can live 50-60 years.
Gold-plated catfish
Gold-plated catfish, or ichthyologists call it, Zungaro zungaro is a catfish native to South America, known to local residents as "Black Mangure" or catfish jau. It lives in the basins of the Orinoco and Amazon rivers, where it is found mainly muddy at the bottom of large tributaries.
A very popular Amazon catfish that can reach a length of 150 cm and a weight of 100 kg. Food usually includes fish that are hunted at night. It can be found in areas prone to flooding, where there are rushing rivers. The record holder is a fish weighing 90 kilograms and 137 centimeters long.