Without a doubt, the fauna that inhabits our planet is truly fascinating. There are many species that deserve special attention. Part of them are found in the aquatic ecosystems that make up the oceans, seas, lakes, rivers. In the latter, those composed of fresh water, several of the biggest fish that exist.
And it is that although we are used to seeing freshwater fish of rather small size in our day to day, it should be noted that there are many species of these friendly animals of more than considerable dimensions.
In this article we are going to discover who are the fish that hold the honor of be the largest freshwater fish in the world, as well as their characteristics, the areas in which they live and much more.
Piraíba
La Piraiba, or also known as Giant Catfish, lives in warm waters of central and northern South America, more specifically in the waters that bathe the basins of the Amazon, Orinoco and Guayanas rivers.
Within the Piraibas, we have up to seven species. Truly, they are very, very large fish. It is estimated that they can reach up to a total of 3,5 meters in length and a weight close to 200 kilograms.
They are voracious predators, since they feed on other fish, snakes, and even monkeys, birds, etc., which they engulf thanks to their prodigious mouth of up to 40 centimeters. Another uniqueness is that they are capable of emitting a sound similar to a growl.
In the field of fishing, these fish are more than valued.
Sturgeon
A place on this list is occupied by the mythical Sturgeon, a creature that everyone who loves fish and fishing will find it especially familiar.
There is no doubt that it is a curious fish in all respects. It is estimated that more than 250 million had lived on this planet, so it has stoically resisted evolutionary processes.
To the different species of sturgeon can be found in large river systems located in the northern hemisphere. It also lends a certain predilection for the Black and Caspian Seas, however in these two areas they are much less frequent. Some are also found in Spain, especially in high-flow rivers such as the Guadalquivir.
Under normal conditions, the size of the sturgeon is 3.5 meters in length, together with a weight of 350 kilograms. But, as usually happens, there are cases that escape any general rule, and in sturgeons it was not going to be less. The largest specimen ever seen, it was about 6 meters long and weighed just over 800 kilograms, a real beast!
Arapaima
The Arapaima, commonly called Paiche or Pirarucú, is one of the largest river fish known, probably only behind the Belgian sturgeon.
It has a special predilection for fresh tropical waters, which is why the Amazon, Madre de Dios and Beni rivers are its homes.. In addition, by action of man, it also occupies river areas of Thailand and Malaysia.
Your body overcomes 3 meters in length, and its weight is close to 250 kilograms. As a curiosity, it must be said that when living in poorly oxygenated waters it has to rise to the surface at certain times to consume oxygen from the atmospheric air. This is possible because its swim bladder has nothing to do with that of many of the fish that we are used to seeing, since it behaves in a way like the lung of a human being.
It feeds on other fish and small animals that may be or fall fortuitously into the waters of rivers, we are talking about birds, reptiles, amphibians, small mammals, etc. To do this, it is helped by a powerful jaw made up of several rows of teeth.
Another behavior that is also striking in these fish is that when they incubate their eggs, make nests in sandy areas of the river, and that can measure little more than half a meter wide and about 20 centimeters deep.
This species of fish has been very threatened by man since in past times there was a massive fishing to get its tongue. A bony tongue that had medicinal powers used to fight intestinal infections.
Today, Arapaimas continue to be fished, and even bred in captivity to trade in their tasty meat.
Giant stingray
Unlike what many of you might imagine at first, rays and manta rays are not just species de peces Not only marine, but they have also adapted to life in fresh water. The Giant Manta Ray is a clear example of this and, in fact, it is one of the largest river fish that exist throughout the Earth.
Southeast Asia, and more specifically the Chao, Phraya and Mekong rivers, has become his favorite home..
At first glance, his figure is imposing. Have been found individuals up to 7 meters in length, weighing more than a ton. The width of these animals is also quite remarkable, since the normal thing is that it is between 2 meters about. These qualities allow it to be the largest of all the species of rays and manta rays that exist.
Unlike its closest relatives that can also live in fresh waters or on the contrary in waters of seas and oceans, it is not endowed with the powerful poisonous sting so feared by anyone who dares to cross its path.
Their diet is not very varied. They have rather carnivorous eating habits, and bony fish and crustaceans have been found to be their favorite foods.
Unfortunately, the massive fishing and the incessant pollution suffered by the aquatic ecosystems have meant that their population has been really depleted and at present their number of specimens is scarce.
These are just a few of the big, huge fish that live in freshwater. This group could be joined by names such as the Catfish, the Giant Piranha, the Catfish, etc..