Unauthorized use is prohibited. Red Sea catfish, also sometimes called the giant Mekong fish. These giant catfish were once plentiful throughout the Mekong basin, but their numbers are believed to have dropped by at least 95 percent over the past century. The Mekong giant catfish is endemic to the lower Mekong River of Southeastern Asia. Endemic to the lower half of the Mekong River, this catfish is in danger of extinction due to overfishing, as well as the decrease in water quality due to development and upstream damming. From 2000 to 2003, about 10,000 captive-bred specimens were released by the Thai authorities. He was later found with only his legs emerging from the mouth of a large piraiba. The population is in decline, with scientists estimating that numbers have decreased by about 90% in the . Ownership and importation of the fish has been restricted in various states of Australia due to fears it could become an invasive species. The Mekong giant catfish belongs to the Actinopterygii class of animals. No body was found, sparking investigation by extreme angler Jeremy Wade (of televisions River Monsters), who considered goonch attacks to be a strong possibility. Since 2000, only 5 specimens have been captured by fishermen. Winter is coming. The story behind Japans surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, The Great Smog of London woke the world to the dangers of coal, At a temple in China, a Kung Fu master keeps the past alive, Christianity struggled to growuntil this skeptic became a believer, It took a village to build Europes Gothic cathedrals, Why the FDA may ease blood donor rules on gay, bisexual men. One specimen was documented to be about 10 feet long and some 646 pounds in weight, but its been suggested that they can grow even larger than this. According to the Guinness Book of Records, a nine-foot-long individual This 'monster fish' lived in a stretch often used to dispose of human bodies after Hindu funeral rites. Contents1 What kind of catfish are in the Mississippi River?2 Where are blue catfish [] Mekong Giant Catfish | National Geographic It can reach up to 440 pounds in only six years. Featuring a round, blunt head and a long body, the Mekong giant catfish has a dull gray or white appearance, usually darker on the upper half. So we asked Heiko Bleher, who's seen some giant catfish in his time No, despite what you may have heard, there aren't. (2014). [1] In recognition of the threat to the species, though, nearly 60 Thai fishermen agreed to stop catching the endangered catfish in June 2006, to mark the 60th anniversary of Bhumibol Adulyadej's ascension to the throne of Thailand. [16] After about one year, the fish becomes herbivorous, feeding on filamentous algae, probably ingesting larvae and periphyton accidentally. AZ Animals is a growing team of animals experts, researchers, farmers, conservationists, writers, editors, and -- of course -- pet owners who have come together to help you better understand the animal kingdom and how we interact. According to the Guinness Book of Records, a nine-foot-long individual. [13] One scientific study found zooplankton and phytoplankton in their stomach contents. This monster was called a Goonch and it was about 1.8m/6ft. Fishing for the Mekong giant catfish is illegal in the wild in Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia, but the bans appear to be ineffective and the fish continue to be caught in all three countries. Mekong giant catfish are now successfully bred in Thailand, they are often hybridised with the iridescent shark to make the Mekong iridescent shark. [16] The Mekong giant catfish are toothless herbivores that live off of the plants and algae in the river. Enjoy this expertly researched article on the Mekong Giant Catfish, including where Mekong Giant Catfish s live, what they eat & much more. This Amazon catfish is capable of growing to up three meters in length. [18] [19]. The Mekong giant catfish is widely regarded as the largest purely freshwater fish in the world (excluding the species that migrate between saltwater and freshwater like the sturgeon). Scientists estimate that the total population of Mekong giant catfish has decreased by around 90% in the last decade, with potentially only a few 100 individuals remaining. See all of our entertaining and insightful animal articles. The Mekong giant catfish is the largest freshwater fish, a species endemic to the Mekong River that migrates huge distances to spawn. Vietnamese restaurant owners, chefs and customers are complicit in the crime of catching, advertising, serving and eating an endangered species. The species name gigas simply means giant in Greek. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. [4] They live primarily in the main channel of the river, where the water depth is over 10m (33ft),[11] while researchers, fishermen and officials have found this species in the Tonle Sap River and Lake in Cambodia, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Please whitelist in order to read our content as well as support our work. [10] Due to threats, this species no longer inhabits the majority of its original habitat. Habitats are also fragmenting, which makes it more difficult for the fish to congregate together in the spawning season. Adults can reach over 9.8 feet in length and can weigh over 300 kg (650 lb). How many Mekong giant catfish are there in the world? World Wildlife Federation, Available here: https://wwf.panda.org/discover/our_focus/wildlife_practice/profiles/fish_marine/giant_catfish/, National Geographic, Available here: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/facts/mekong-giant-catfish. Conservationists have focused on the Mekong giant catfish as a flagship species to promote conservation on the river. They also have a short body form like the paroon shark and iridescent shark. Size: Length: 3m Weight: 300kg Habitat and Ecology The Mekong giant catfish is the largest freshwater fish and is endemic to the Mekong River. They appear to be closely related to other Asian catfish. It was thought this may have led the Goonch to start taking live human victims, but there was never any proof. In Thailand, Mekong giant catfishes have been successfully bred in artificial ponds, but efforts to introduce these fish in the wild have largely failed. In A Nutshell Truly enormous catfish stalk rivers worldwide, may feed on human bodies, and are also suspected of drowning live victims. It is not exactly known when the Mekong giant catfish first evolved though. They can live up to 60 years. In the past, fishers have reported the fish in a number of the Mekong's tributaries. In 2005, the Mekong giant catfish attained the Guinness World Record' for the world's largest freshwater fish. The species needs to reach 5070kg (110150lb) to breed, and it does not breed in lakes. They are also bred for the aquarium trade. Fish Quiz Can You Identify These 20 Fishes? The Mekong giant catfish is the official freshwater heavyweight champion of the world. This is because of their giant size and because they often put up a strong fight after getting hooked. Ruby Design Company. A fisherman with two partners dove to repair a net but did not come back. What does a huge catfish look like? Truly enormous catfish stalk rivers worldwide, may feed on human bodies, and are also suspected of drowning live victims. These trips help you embrace itor escape it. Can a tiger fish kill a human? Adult giant catfish largely feed on plants and algae. Was the Mississippi River Really Home to a Massive 736-Pound Catfish? Why is the Mekong giant catfish important? Its estimated they have a total lifespan of about 60 years in the wild. I have just completed another Amazon expedition where one native of the Makuna tribe told me about a giant catfish (Brachyplatystoma vallentii), which swallows people. It does not eat meat. [13], As fry, this species feeds on zooplankton in the river and is known to be cannibalistic. The most common size landed is 18kg (40lb), although some companies specialise in landing the larger fish. It is now only found in the mainstream of the Lower Mekong in Myanmar, Lao PDR, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Some experts think there may be only a few hundred, or even fewer, adults left in the Mekong River. Caught last month (May 1) in the . All rights reserved. The lower jaw projects beyond the upper jaw. How do you kill hard-to-reach tumors? This species belongs to the shark catfish family and are known for their extraordinary size. Historically, the fish's natural range reached from the lower Mekong in Vietnam (above the tidally influenced brackish water of the river's delta) all the way to the northern reaches of the river in the Yunnan Province of China, spanning almost the entire 4,800km (3,000mi) length of the river. The Mekong giant catfish ( Pangasianodon gigas) is found only in the Mekong River and is one of the largest freshwater fish species in the world. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) You don't find to many humans living in water. The Mekong giant catfish is the official freshwater heavyweight champion of the world. The juveniles are born with whiskers (which help them find food in the underwater environment), but they slowly diminish with age. The river is also a popular destination for recreation, such as fishing, boating, and swimming. In South America, a piraiba swallowed a fisherman and was found with the legs still sticking out, while goonch catfish accustomed to feeding on funeral corpses are accused of dragging two boys to their deaths. Missouri catfishes have smooth, scaleless skin and barbels ("whiskers") around the mouth. No. Its thought that only a few hundred individuals may be remaining; this is based on the number of fish caught rather than a true population estimate. For example, the largest catfish can reach 2 to 3 kilograms, the largest catfish can reach 50 kilograms, and the largest parasitic catfish is less than 10 millimeters. This native of the Mekong River basin in Southeast Asia is actually a member of the shark catfish family, a species that includes the plant eating and endangered Mekong giant catfish. Our site is an advertising supported site. A MediaComms.IO company. Mekong giant catfish are highly migratory, requiring large stretches of river for seasonal journeys and specific environmental conditions in their spawning and breeding areas. Worlds Largest Freshwater Fish Captured: The Size of a Grizzly Bear! In the Kali River of India, a number of human bodies are disposed of during funeral proceedings. Can a catfish kill a human? The Mekong giant catfish is currently classified as a critically endangered species by the IUCN Red List. Most people in Vietnam knows it is illegal to sell tiger meat or pangolin scales or rhino horn. We may be getting closer. Limits apply on all waters except on areas with special regulations. In July 1998, a boy was mysteriously pulled underwater in sight of his father. The worlds oldest map of the night sky was amazingly accurate. It is a major source of water for irrigation and drinking water for millions of people living in the Midwest. The Mekong giant catfish (Pangasianodon gigas; Thai: , RTGS:pla buek, pronounced [pl bk]; Khmer: /try riec/; Vietnamese: c tra du), is a large, threatened species of catfish (order Siluriformes) in the shark catfish family (Pangasiidae), native to the Mekong basin in Southeast Asia and adjacent China. In Europe, suspicion rests on the potentially enormous wels catfish, with a human body found inside one individual. The Mekong giant catfish has one of the fastest growth rates of any fish in the world. Among all catfish, the Mekong giant catfish is the largest, with the largest individual reaching 200 to 300 kilograms, followed by the six-barbel catfish, with the largest . Despite being large and intimidating, this species shows no predatory behavior at all. Now with high-quality pictures. It also implements projects dedicated to conservation, research, monitoring, and raising awareness of the Mekong giant catfish. This post may contain affiliate links to our partners like Chewy, Amazon, and others. Catfish (Channel) January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022. Southeast Asia's Mekong giant catfish (Pangasianodon gigas) is the world's largest freshwater fish, with the biggest among them weighing an astonishing 650 pounds (300 kilograms), and growing to a length of 10 feet (3 meters). The Forgotten Integration Of The US Army In World War II. The Mekong giant catfish is a threatened species in the Mekong, and conservationists have focused on it as a flagship species to promote conservation on the river. Fragmentation caused by dams increasingly poses threats to larval fish. With no population figures available, estimates of the decline are based on the fall in the number of fish caught. No, despite what you may have heard, there aren't. This is a myth, along with age-old claims that giant anacondas or piranhas eat men. The juvenile feeds on tiny animals floating in the water. Catfish are scavengers and will eat just about anything they can find, but they are not large enough to eat a human. Mekong giant catfish along with the giant barb, giant pangasius, redtail catfish and alligator gar are a common sport fish in exotic fishing ponds in Thailand and Malaysia. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. This is a myth, along with age-old claims that giant anacondas or piranhas eat men. Have some feedback for us? The giant catfish of Mekong river is a critically endangered . At the height of the overfishing craze, millions of tons could be caught every year. The culprits for its decline appear to be infrastructure development, overfishing, pollution, and mineral runoff, and dam construction, which diverts its natural spawning route. Check area regulations. What happens if the flu and RSV fuse into a single virus? The Mekong giant catfish is a species of catfish in the shark catfish family. Unlike other types of catfish, the adults of this species do not have whiskers (also called barbells) or teeth of any kind, perhaps on account of their herbivorous diet. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. People, especially the Caboclos in Amazonia and natives of other parts of South America and in Asia, love to tell these blood-curdling stories! Highly migratory, the species requires large stretches of river and very specific environmental conditions for its seasonal journey to spawn and breed. (Pholprasith, 1983 as cited in Mattson et al. It is now illegal in Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia to harvest the critically endangered species, though giant catfishes still are illicitly caught, with some sold to restaurants in Vietnam. All Rights Reserved. In one case, a body was found inside a Russian individual. [4] Fish congregate during the beginning of the rainy season and migrate upstream to spawn. In fact it eventually turned out to be a Bagarius bagarius catfish which could not even have swallowed a child. The Mekong giant catfish is the official freshwater heavyweight champion of the world. [6] Thai fisheries officials stripped the giant catfish, caught in 2005, of its eggs as part of a breeding program, intending then to release it, but the fish died in captivity and was sold as food to local villagers.[5][7][8]. Despite its gargantuan size, but also because of it, the giant catfish lives a tenuous existence in the murky waters of its native river, Southeast Asias Mekong, where its numbers have plummeted so dramatically that the species is on the brink of extinction. Ants make milk? The Thailand Fisheries Department has instituted a breeding programme to restock the Mekong River. Highly migratory, the species. Unfortunately, due to years of exploitation and neglect, this species is now a sad reminder of the need for more sustainable fishing practices and development. It can reach up to 440 pounds in only six years. The juvenile feeds on tiny animals floating in the water. There have been some reports of catfish attacking humans, but this is usually because the fish mistake the human for food. People, especially the Caboclos in Amazonia and natives of other parts of South America and in Asia . At the beginning of the rainy season, they will travel upstream to reach the spawning locations from their childhood. It is a specific and popular type of Red Sea fish. The real winter soldiers behind the U.S.s newest national monument, See the beauty of Bhutan in a new cross-country trail, This new trail is revealing the wonders of Armenia to the world. Not like going down to the pond and chasing bluegills and tommycods. . Read our Complete Guide to Classification of Animals. Nearly nine feet long (2.7 meters) and as big as a grizzly bear, a huge catfish caught in northern Thailand may be the largest freshwater fish ever recorded. [3], Mekong giant catfish are one of the largest species of freshwater fish. It may be a combination of Pangasius, a local word for the shark catfish, and a Greek term meaning without tooth (referring to its toothless mouth). In South America, a piraiba swallowed a fisherman and was found with the legs still sticking out, while goonch catfish accustomed to feeding on funeral corpses are accused of dragging two boys to their deaths. however, essentially no sightings are reported outside of the main Mekong river channel and the Tonle Sap region. 2572212 | VAT registration No. Yet when I asked if anyone had actually seen the fish attack anyone there was no answer. entertaining and insightful animal articles, World Record Catfish: Discover the Largest Catfish Ever Caught, The 10 Best Books About Celtic Mythology for Kids, The 10 Best Books About Trains Available Today, Deer Season In Delaware: Everything You Need To Know To Be Prepared, 10 Animals That Produce Milk (Other Than Cows), Discover the Water Bug That Looks Like a Cockroach (But Is Quite Different). Purchasing through these helps us further the A-Z Animals mission to educate about the world's species.. Bad fish! This Mekong giant . [12][13] Spawning fish in the upper Cambodia are being over harvested. [citation needed] The fish likely obtains its food from algae growing on submerged rocky surfaces, as it does not have any sort of dentition. They also have a short body form like the paroon shark and iridescent shark. As a result, it is believed that the giant goonch Catfish, which can weigh over 200 kilograms and measure nearly 2.5 meters (8.2 ft) in length may have developed a taste for human flesh. Reproduction and Lifespan The Mekong giant catfish is a migratory species. Discover the Largest Blue Catfish Ever Caught in Florida. The Mekong giant catfish is thought to be the largest freshwater fish in the world. All rights reserved. A 300-pound giant Mekong catfish illegally caught in Cambodia's Tonle Sap Lake is displayed at a restaurant in Hanoi, Vietnam. It is considered critically endangered due to accelerating habitat loss. They are distinguished from other large catfish species by their near-total lack of barbels, or whiskers, as well as by the absence of teeth. Can a giant catfish eat a human? Overfishing is the primary cause of the giant catfishs decline, but damming of Mekong tributaries, destruction of spawning and breeding grounds, and siltation (a process by which water becomes dirty with fine mineral particles) have also taken a huge toll. 2002), 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T15944A5324699.en, "World's largest freshwater fish found in Mekong, scientists say", "Grizzly Bear-Size Catfish Caught in Thailand", "Fish whopper: 646 pounds a freshwater record", "Mekong giant fish species: on their management and biology", "Trails of river monster: Detecting critically endangered Mekong giant catfish, "Study on feeding habits of Mekong giant catfish in Mae Peum Reservoir, Thailand", "List of Noxious Aquatic Species in Victoria", "Southeast asia may be building too many dams too fast", "Giant Catfish Critically Endangered, Group Says", "Pla Buek: The Giant Catfish of the Mae Khong River Chiangrai", Photo in National Geographic of a large specimen, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mekong_giant_catfish&oldid=1119478183, IUCN Red List critically endangered species, Articles containing Vietnamese-language text, All articles with vague or ambiguous time, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2019, Articles with unsourced statements from March 2013, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 1 November 2022, at 20:23. GB 638 3492 15, Copyright 2022 Warners Group Publications Plc, Are There Any Giant Catfish That Can Really Eat Humans. On account of its size, the Mekong giant catfish has very few natural predators in the wild besides humans. In Europe, the wels catfish may grow up to over three meters (10 ft) in length, and historical accounts suggest lengths of over five meters (16 ft). It is grey to white in colour and is distinguished by the near-total lack of barbels and the absence of teeth. They can live up to 60 years. View all of the Mekong Giant Catfish images! In 2005 . The Mekong giant catfish occupies an unusual place in the freshwater food chain. The Mekong giant catfish is completely herbivorous. [13], The World Wide Fund for Nature works in partnership with other organizations including the Mekong River Commission and the Asian Development Bank which aims to ensure that environmental and social impacts are considered in developments of hydropower infrastructures. This creature has been harvested by local fishers in the region for many thousands of years. [1][21] It is also listed in Appendix I of CITES, banning commercial international trade involving wild-caught specimens. The giant of the Mekong The Mekong giant catfish is the largest freshwater fish and is endemic to the Mekong River. The only other living member of the genus is the iridescent shark catfish. View all of our Mekong Giant Catfish pictures in the gallery. [26] The species is represented as ancient art along the Mekong River.[13]. You've probably heard stories that say they can. The critically endangered Mekong giant catfish, such as this one on a fisherman's boat, is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world. In 2002 they caught just five.[24]. A further major factor in the decline of the Mekong giant catfish is over-fishing. The Mekong giant catfish can be found throughout the Mekong River system in Southeastern Asia. A disturbing case involving local police and Animal Planets expert angler Jeremy Wade saw a disturbing case involving an enormous piraiba. After about a year, they become herbivores, and eat plants and algae. Mekong Giant Catfish is the world's largest species of catfish found in Mekong river basin in Southeast Asia. [14][15] Overfishing, damming, destruction of spawning, and breeding grounds and siltation have taken a toll on the species' habitat. No, not for most species. Enforcement can be spotty, however, and the rules dont necessarily stop poachers from killing them and selling them to Vietnamese restaurants. [25] Thailand is the only country to allow fishing for private stocks of Mekong giant catfish. Grey to white in color and lacking stripes, the Mekong giant catfish is distinguished from other large catfish species in the river by the near-total lack of barbels and the absence of teeth. [15], In Thai folklore, this fish is regarded with reverence, and special rituals are followed and offerings are made before fishing it. Is it possible to cure hot flashes? There is presumably a lot of attrition in the first few days and weeks after hatching, so only a small number of fish ever reach full adulthood. As babies, they feed on zooplankton in the river and are known to be cannibalistic. Can a giant catfish eat a human? Conservationists have tried to breed this fish in artificial ponds as a last-ditch effort to save the entire species, but so far all efforts to introduce them back into the wild have met with failure. Particle physics is on the case. Thank you for reading! The Mekong giant catfish has one of the fastest growth rates of any fish in the world. When it was cut open human remains were said to have been found inside. Wolf Quiz What is Special About These Family Animals? All Rights Reserved. With their huge mouths and low-set eyes, these large shark catfish trawl the waters of the mighty Mekong, feeding on huge quantities of plant matter every day. Ill catch this bird for you, but it aint gonna be easy. [12] The fish are thought to rear primarily in the Mekong and Cambodia's Tonle Sap lake and migrate hundreds of miles north to spawning grounds in Thailand. Upon hatching, the young fish feed on small zooplankton (tiny water-based animals), and if food is scarce, they will sometimes even cannibalize each other. After a year, they will switch to their adult herbivorous diet and start eating plants. This 'monster fish' lived in a stretch often used to dispose of human bodies after Hindu funeral rites. [22], In The Anthropologists' Cookbook (1977), Jessica Kuper noted the importance of the pa beuk to the Lao people and remarked, "In times gone by, this huge fish, which is found only in the Mekong, was fairly plentiful, but in the last few years, the number taken annually has dwindled to forty, thirty or twenty, and perhaps in 1976 even fewer. In fact it eventually turned out to be a Bagarius bagarius catfish which could not even have swallowed a child. However, it turned out to be a whale shark and the story had been a set-up. 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