The largest sturgeon fish in the world. The largest freshwater fish in the world
This article will describe the real masters of the water element: TOP 10 largest freshwater fish in the world. Interesting? Then read on!
Beluga
What is the largest freshwater fish? Its name is beluga. This is a representative of the sturgeon family, one of the most amazing on the planet. Archaeological studies have shown that belugas appeared about 190 million years ago and lived on Earth along with dinosaurs and crocodiles. Beluga can rightfully claim the title of "The world's largest freshwater fish." It’s incredible, but the length of the largest of all the caught individuals was as much as 7.4 meters, and the weight reached one and a half tons! For comparison: polar bear weighs about 850 kg.
This largest freshwater fish in the world is found in the Azov, Caspian and Black Seas; it goes to spawn in many large rivers approximately once every 3 years. The female spawns in April-May, laying from 300 thousand to 7 million eggs.
Beluga caviar is black in color and is considered the most valuable of all sturgeon. For this reason, huge fish become desirable prey for poachers. Their mass catch is prohibited by the state. Unfortunately, in Lately The number of the species has decreased noticeably. The IWC lists this world's largest freshwater fish as Critically Endangered.
Today, beluga is artificially bred not only in the Russian Federation, but also in other countries. Perhaps this measure will help increase the number of the species and the beluga will not disappear in the coming years.
The world's largest freshwater fish lives on average 100 years, puberty in males occurs at 12-14 years, and in females at 16-18. Beluga is a predator. It feeds mainly on small fish and shellfish; especially large specimens do not disdain even seals. Usually lives at very great depths in bodies of water with strong currents. Despite the fact that the beluga is an independent species, it can hybridize with stellate sturgeon, sterlet, sturgeon, and sturgeon. As a result of this practice, viable hybrids were obtained, in particular, beluga-sterlet (Bester). Sturgeon hybrids are successfully grown in
Now you know what the world's largest freshwater fish is. There is a photo of the beluga in the article.
Kaluga
Freshwater fish from the sturgeon family. Lives in the Amur River. The population has declined significantly due to unrestricted Chinese fishing. Sometimes the fish reaches 5 meters and weighs 1200 kilograms. Kaluga is a predator and, in the absence of food, practices cannibalism. The Red Book of Russia states that only a few thousand sexually mature individuals exist in nature. Industrial fishing has been prohibited on the territory of the Russian Federation since 1958. It is legalized in China.
White sturgeon
This is the largest freshwater fish North America. Together with beluga and kaluga, it represents the sturgeon family and amazes with its enormous size. The huge fish has an elongated slender body and no scales.
The largest specimen weighed about 800 kilograms and was more than 6 meters long. Lives in fresh waters of the USA and Canada. Prefers large and medium-sized rivers with weak currents.
Bull shark or bull shark
It is the largest freshwater fish in South America, Africa and Australia. The life of an individual lasts approximately 30 years.
It is an extremely aggressive predator. One of the few species of sharks that feel comfortable in both salt and fresh water. The length of this fish is 3.5 m, weight is 450 kg. The bull shark lives in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. The Australian Brisbane River is inhabited by a whole population of about 500 individuals. The female carries the cub for 10-11 months, after which she leaves him forever.
This species, along with brindle and white, is the leader in the number of attacks on people. On this moment there are 26 fatal cases.
Giant Mekong catfish and common catfish
These two species shared 5th place. The rivers and lakes of Thailand are considered the home of the giant Mekong catfish. It is the largest species among its relatives, and for this reason it is often considered and studied separately from the rest. The body length of the fish reaches 4.5-5.0 meters, weight - up to 300 kg. Fish and small animals are the favorite delicacy of the giant catfish.
It has a body length of up to 5 meters and weighs up to 350 kg. Inhabits water bodies of the European part of Russia, as well as eastern and central Europe.
Nile perch
Distributed throughout tropical Africa. The maximum length of one individual is 200 cm, weight - 200 kg. It is a predator, feeding on fish and crustaceans. It bears its young in the oral cavity. This helps them survive and increases the population.
Arapaima
Considered a river monster of the Amazon. It was first noticed by European scientists at the beginning of the 19th century. However, they still have not been able to study all the features of this fish.
Arapaima is able to use atmospheric air as the main source of oxygen. This feature allows it to be a universal predator and hunt not only fish, but also other animals, including birds. Arapaima grow up to 3 meters in length, their weight is 150-190 kg.
Indian carp
Inhabits water bodies of India and Thailand. Prefers quiet, standing water. On average it grows up to 180 cm and weighs 150 kg. Eats small fish, small crustaceans and worms. Distributed throughout almost all of Europe, found in Asia. Its weight usually does not exceed 30 kg, the largest recorded carp weighed 70 kg.
paddlefish
Lives in reservoirs of the eastern part of the USA. It grows in length up to 180-220 cm, weight reaches 90 kg. In the seventies of the last century it was brought to the territory of the USSR. Since then they began to breed it in Crimea.
Common taimen
The biggest and ancient fish from the salmon family. Distributed in eastern Russia and Siberia. Loves cold and fast-moving rivers. Taimen - major representative of the salmon family, reaches 1.5–2.0 m in length and weighs more than 60 kg. Is dangerous predator. Eats fish.
The largest freshwater fish in Russia
The list of the largest species that are found in freshwater bodies of our country looks like this:
- Beluga.
- Kaluga.
- Common catfish.
- Taimen.
- Carp.
All of the above fish have been described in this article.
Just seeing them once, you can forever lose all desire to even approach the river. But to silver-haired Jeremy Wade, who hosts Animal Planet's River Monsters, they're just fish. And yes, he really releases everything he catches.
1. A two-meter, 50-pound shell pike caught in the Trinity River in Texas.
2. A 68-kilogram arapaima caught in Lake Rio Maderia in Brazil.
3. Huge sixgill shark caught in the southern part African river Zambezi.
4. Electric eel from the Amazon River, which can grow up to 2.4 m in length and weigh up to 19 kg.
5. Freshwater sawfish that grows up to 6 meters in length and weighs up to 180 kg.
6. Huge Siamese carp from the Mekong River. And this is not an adult yet. It can grow up to 3 meters and weigh up to 300 kg, making it one of the largest freshwater fish on our planet.
7. Large freshwater stingray. This 180-kilogram fish was the largest that Jeremy Wade managed to catch.
8. The goliath terapon is a distant relative of the piranha, found in the Congo River in the heart of Africa.
9. 73 kg catfish from Northern India. This fish was 1.5 m from head to tail, 1 meter in girth and with a tail span of 1.1 m.
10. Protopter. The largest individual can reach 2 meters in length.
11. Vundu catfish, which can reach 1.5 meters in length, and its maximum weight was 54 kg.
12. New Zealand eel, which can reach 1.5 meters in length.
13. Nile perch. Can grow up to 1.8 m in length and up to 225 kg in weight.
14. Black piranha - the largest of the 40 known species piranhas
15. Similar to some kind prehistoric fish catfish from the Orinoco River, known locally as kuyukuyu. It can reach a meter in length and weigh 18 kg. At the back of the fish's body there are extensions that support the caudal fin, which is why it looks like an armadillo fish from another era.
16. The red-bellied pacu belongs to the genus piranha, but unlike its fellows it feeds mainly on insects and vegetation. Uses his big ones like human teeth for cracking nuts, seeds and cutting up sea grasses and other food sources.
17. Short-tailed river stingray. It usually grows up to 1.5 m in diameter and weighs more than 200 kg. 
21. Close relative The piranha is a mackerel-like fish often called the vampire fish because of its long fangs, which can be up to 15 cm in length. This beautiful fish lives in the Orinoco River in Venezuela.
Fish a little more than half a meter long, living in fresh water, look very large, but among freshwater fish there are a variety of species that are so large in length and weight that it is difficult to imagine.
Of course, the inhabitants sea depths come in a wider variety of shapes and sizes, but some rivers and lakes are home to unique species of the world's largest freshwater fish.
Fishing enthusiasts should always exercise great caution, especially when fishing in unfamiliar water bodies. It is unknown to what size a catfish or perch could grow in the deep waters of an unvisited lake. So it won’t be long before you yourself become the prey of some two-meter pike. 🙂
10. Carp (Cyprinus carpio)
Carp (carp)- a large omnivorous fish that lives in fresh water bodies with stagnant water and a muddy bottom. The body is covered with large scales and has a golden hue. A very voracious fish, capable of eating almost the whole day. Carp eat young shoots of reeds and other aquatic plants, as well as mollusks, aquatic insects and even the eggs of other fish and frogs. Since the average size of this fish is small, it ranks last among the ten largest freshwater fish in the world. The largest carp was caught in 2015 in Hungary. His weight was 48 kg.
9.
paddlefish is a large freshwater fish that inhabits bodies of water in the eastern United States, particularly rivers flowing into Gulf of Mexico. Most common in Mississippi and its associated lakes. On average, adults reach a size of 221 cm and a weight of 90.7 kg. They live long, up to 55 years. These freshwater fish are the only sturgeon species that feed on zooplankton, phytoplankton, as well as the remains (detritus) and secretions of invertebrate animals.
8.
Siberian taimen (Russian salmon)- a species of predatory freshwater fish belonging to the salmon family. These fish inhabit the fast and cold waters of Siberia, Altai and Far East. It is not in vain that it is considered the largest salmon in the world: such a fish can be 1 m in length and weigh 50-60 kg. The taimen is not whimsical in its choice of food; it preys on all types of fish that are smaller in size. It has different colors, but you can recognize it by its olive-green head, reddish-brown tail and 8-10 transverse stripes on the sides. The lifespan of taimen is significantly longer than that of other salmon. Thanks to this, fish can grow to above average sizes.
The largest taimen in the world was caught in the Krasnoyarsk Territory on the Kotui River in 1943. The weight of this fish was 105 kg and the length was 210 cm.
7.
Shelled pike- ray-finned fish of the armored family. Swims in fresh and brackish waters Central and North America. This is not only one of the largest freshwater fish on the planet, but also one of the most ancient - the ancestors of this species lived on Earth more than 100 million years ago. It got its name for its truly terrifying appearance: its long body is covered with thick, shell-like scales, and its sharp muzzle has powerful jaws with four rows of teeth. Armored freshwater pikes can reach 3 m in length and weigh up to 136 kg. It mainly eats small fish, but can also attack humans.
6. Nile perch (Lates niloticus)
Nile perch- the largest freshwater fish in the world from the genus Perciformes. Found in water bodies of Africa (Nile, Senegal, Congo, etc.). We are used to catching perches “on the palm” and more, but this type grows up to 2 m in length with a weight of up to 200 kg. Average length African freshwater perch will be 120-140 cm. The fish has a silver color with a blue tint. It feeds on smaller fish, insects, crayfish, and also does not disdain its relatives.
5.
Brazilian arapaima is a tropical freshwater fish from the Aravan family. Distributed in lakes and rivers South America. The body of this fish has a greenish color in the front, with a smooth transition to red in the tail, and incredibly durable scales. Thanks to its reliable protection, the arapaima coexists with such ferocious predators as piranhas. It mainly feeds on fish, and on occasion birds and small animals. The average length is 2 meters, but there are individuals up to 3 meters and weighing 200 kg.
The Brazilian arapaima has a unique feature - it is able to breathe atmospheric air.
4.
Mekong catfish (shilbo catfish)- ray-finned fish of the pangasian catfish family. Inhabits the rivers of Thailand: Mekong and Tonle Sap. The largest specimen was 2.7 m in length and weighed 293 kg. These freshwater fish eat phytoplankton and algae and also prey on fish and small animals. Due to excessive fishing, there is a possibility of complete extinction of this species. According to some data, over the past 14 years, its population in the world has decreased by 80%. Therefore, the Shilbo catfish is included in the International Red Book.
3.
Common catfish- a large bottom-dwelling fish without scales, living in deep fresh waters of lakes and rivers in Europe, Asia and parts of Russia. This fish is a real giant among aquatic creatures. Therefore, it is included in the same list with the largest freshwater fish in the world. With great depth and sufficient food, it can grow up to 5 m long and weigh up to 400 kg. There is no official confirmation of the second figure, but there are many eyewitness accounts. For such sizes, you need a lot of food. Some sources say that catfish feed exclusively on carrion. In fact, these fish prefer to hunt small fish, crustaceans, waterfowl, aquatic insects, small mammals and even their relatives.
Catfish are very large predatory fish with an aggressive character, living in fresh water, including in places where people bathe. In this regard, they pose a danger to humans, because may cause quite serious injuries. There is official evidence of attacks by two-meter catfish on people.
2.
White sturgeon is the third largest in the sturgeon family. Inhabits the fresh waters of North America and is considered the largest cultural heritage British Columbia. Sturgeon likes to live in calm waters west coast, is different large size: up to 6 m long and weighing up to 816 kg. The fish is very aggressive, has a characteristic gray color with white spots and diamonds on the sides and back. Sturgeons live for a very long time, longer than humans, up to 100-110 years, and can reproduce only from the age of 14 (males) and 18 (females). The predator eats mollusks, crustaceans, worms and fish.
1. Beluga (Huso huso)
Beluga- a large freshwater fish from the sturgeon family, living in the Caspian, Black and Azov seas. This fish grows to enormous sizes: 4-5 meters in length and weighs up to one and a half tons. According to unconfirmed reports, there were individuals 9 m long and weighing up to 2 tons. That is why the beluga is the largest freshwater fish in the world. It feeds on different types of fish and shellfish, but prefers sprat, gobies, and herring. Beluga is a valuable commercial fish because... it contains the most expensive caviar in the world – black. The cost of a kilogram of black caviar in Europe can exceed 7,000 euros. Beluga is listed in the Red Book.
Another large one also belongs to the beluga genus commercial fish – kaluga (Huso dauricus). We did not include it in the ranking of the largest freshwater fish in the world to make our TOP 10 more diverse. Lives in the Amur River. Grown-up individuals feed on minnows and other small fish, and later they eat silver carp, carp, salmon, grass carp, and sometimes their relatives. It can grow up to 5-6 meters long, and the maximum recorded weight of the “Queen of Amur” is 600 kg. This giant was caught by a Chinese fisherman in 2012. There is an assumption that previously there were fish weighing up to a ton. Included in the international and Russian Red Book. Kaluga is a freshwater fish, but is able to adapt to life in salty sea water.
Gray bull shark (bluntnose) lives in tropical and subtropical waters of all oceans. Belongs to the family gray sharks, whose representatives can live in both salt and fresh water and is the largest of them. Among all species of living sharks, it has the greatest bite force - up to 6000 Newton. According to some data, it reaches a length of 3.5-4 m and a weight of up to 400 kg. Females are larger than males, aggressive and merciless. The bull shark hunts in the shallowest freshwater bodies near sandy beaches. Although this is a large fish, we did not include it in the rating because freshwater rivers and lakes are not its main habitat.
- The smallest freshwater fish in the world is dwarf pandaka (Pandaka pygmaea). It has an almost transparent colorless body. Found in the lakes of the Philippine island of Luzon. It grows no more than 1 centimeter and weighs 4-5 mg.
- The most big fish in the world, among the inhabitants of both fresh and salt water bodies - whale shark (Rhincodon typus).
Interesting facts about the largest freshwater fish in the world.
Photos of the largest river fish often show catfish. And this is most likely connected with the same question: do real cannibal catfish exist in reality? These huge fish are too mysterious and there are so many fables about them. But there is still evidence of catfish attacks on people in our time, given that giant individuals are still found. According to US zoology specialist David Wheeler, there are catfish weighing half a ton and measuring more than six meters. Such facts are given in his book about catfish of unprecedented sizes that still live in large bodies of water.
And in our time, catfish attacks on animals occur, the victims of which are usually pets and young cows, sheep, goats, as well as adults. People also became targets of attacks by underwater predators, and most often these were children. In the middle of the summer of 1982, researchers and rangers of the Khopyorsky Nature Reserve witnessed a catfish attack on a young deer and its death when a huge fish pulled it under water. Bears crossing the river also became victims of catfish. This is still talked about in the Siberian region.
So, the largest freshwater fish is the catfish? Among other things, and a cannibal? Quite possible. Here are some more facts, moreover, from very recent history. This happened in Voronezh region at the end of the summer season, in the 90s. Near the village of Kulakovo, a boy and a woman became victims of an attack by a huge killer catfish. They swam in the evening in hunting areas of man-eating catfish.
Similar cases of people disappearing in the evening were recorded in China at a large reservoir. People went swimming and did not return from the water. The mystery of their disappearances was solved when a giant catfish measuring three meters in size was caught with human remains in its stomach. One head of this catfish was a meter in size.
It is difficult to judge whether this is true or not, but according to some sources, a five-meter catfish was found on the side of the vessel in a tugboat that sank on the river, which had made a hole in the hull. In the stomach of the monster, the remains of three Polish tourists were found, who, after the disaster with the tugboat, transferred to a small rescue vessel, but never made it to the shore. It was on the Dnieper.
Beluga
The list includes the largest freshwater fish or river monsters, beluga should also be included. It would, of course, be in first place in size among the fish of Russia. But this huge fish is not a permanent and typical river inhabitant, since it is a migratory fish species and enters rivers only to spawn. Meanwhile, in the local history museum of the Republic of Mari El, among the exhibits there is a beluga weighing a ton, once caught in the Volga. But this is not the limit of the weight and size of the beluga. According to unspecified and unofficial data, not so long ago individuals weighing up to 2 tons and up to 7-8 meters in length were encountered. Confirmed data indicate the capture of the largest specimen of this fish, weighing one and a half tons and 4.2 meters long. Some of the largest belugas are truly long-livers, as their age can be 100 years.
The largest river fish in Russia, although they do not constantly live in rivers, but, nevertheless, spend a lot of time there most own life. This is due to the characteristics of reproduction. Being inhabitants of the Caspian, Black, Azov and, according to some information, the Adriatic seas, belugas come to spawn mostly in the Volga, as well as in the rivers: Ural, Terek and Kura. But if earlier these powerful and ancient fossil fish rose quite high along the Volga, to the middle reaches and higher, then with the emergence of the Volga cascade of dams and hydroelectric stations, the rise of the beluga stopped, at least to the previous levels.
The fish passages didn't help either. In addition, some dams either did not have them at all or did not work at full capacity. For example, at the Cheboksary hydroelectric power station in the first years, instead of fish passage structures, only an 8 cm grid was installed, on which passing large fish were cut and died, falling to the bottom under the release of water from the dam.
The largest river fish in the world hardly reached the size of the Russian beluga, at least those individuals that entered our rivers in the 18th and 19th centuries. Meanwhile, in our time, these valuable sturgeon fish, which once supplied a lot of delicious meat and gourmet black caviar, are on the verge of extinction, despite the bans. And in the good old days, even a simple peasant could afford to taste the delicious beluga meat and the same delicious black caviar, moreover, in large quantities. It happened one fine day in the year eighteen hundred and ninety-one, when strong wind from the shore he unexpectedly and quickly drove water from the Gulf of the Azov Sea near Taganrog. In a shallow puddle in the bay, this lucky guy found a beluga weighing 20 pounds (327 kg). There was almost 50 kilograms of black caviar in it. This is where you could eat plenty of real fish and black caviar, even with a tablespoon, simply! ..
Siberian taimen
The largest freshwater fish in Russia are also found in Siberian rivers. And the largest and beautiful predator icy waters is taimen. This is the oldest fish of all salmon, since taimen lived about 18 million years ago. Most species and subspecies of taimen, including lenok and char, are predominantly freshwater, with the exception of the Sakhalin taimen, which adheres to the mouths of rivers and the desalinated part of the sea at certain times.
In our country, taimen live in the rivers of Siberia, as well as in the rivers of the Amur basin. These powerful and incredibly beautiful fish are the object of sport fishing according to the “catch and release” principle. This strict principle is a vital necessity, since the Siberian taimen is already an endangered fish species.
Among Russian fish, taimen stand out for their size and weight. The largest specimens recently reached a weight of a hundredweight and a length of two meters and a hook. Since 1993, the record has been held for the largest taimen caught on sports gear and released back into the waters of the river. The weight of this trophy fish was 41.95 kg. However, no, no, and information will get through, they say, they caught a taimen weighing 50 kg, or even 80 kilograms, somewhere in a mountain river. In a word, taimen is the largest freshwater fish in our country beyond the Ural ridge.
Taimen are true predators, capable of swallowing large fish. Externally, this large fish is live torpedo, for which strong currents and rapids of mountain rivers are not an obstacle. The usual coloring of taimen consists of brown tones on the back and silver on the sides with dark spots. IN mating season these fish become even more beautiful. Red, almost orange colors give them visibility and brightness. pelvic fins, as well as juicy red with a copper tint - anal and caudal fins.
Element of taimen - icy mountain rivers and the same lakes. The hunting grounds are the pits immediately beyond the rapids, where the tired small fish and becomes the prey of a predator. Taimen also stay in small groups and in places with an uneven bottom on stretches and even in river bays. If only there was depth in such a bay.
Pike
The category of the largest freshwater fish also includes pike. According to Leonid Pavlovich Sabaneev, pike weighing 48-64 kg were found not so long ago in northern and Siberian rivers. And predators weighing 100 pounds and weighing 20 kg are not particularly rare in Russian waters, especially in the expanses of the Volga reservoirs. The pike caught during the reign of the German Emperor Barbarossa, which was 5.7 meters long and weighed 140 kg, is considered legendary. She was ringed and thrown into the lake. The pike lived for more than 200 years in this lake and, when caught, was whitish in color, as if faded with age. The skeleton and ring of this pike are still kept in one of the museums in Germany. True, there are doubts about the authenticity of these artifacts, since the maximum age of pike is estimated by leading ichthyologists at 33 years.
Even in forest peat lakes there were giant pikes. The 30-kilogram pikes of Lake Luzhier were written about in the pre-war newspapers of the Mari Volga region. Large in area, but only 2-3 meters deep, this peat interdune lake still remains a haven for large pike. The lake's tenants, who set themselves the goal of completely catching predators and introducing cultivated fish species, failed to cope with this task. The lake seemed to have a second bottom where predators were hiding. And in the process of seine fishing, fishermen saw giant fish exiting and jumping through the net, and also observed live logs in shallow areas. Log pikes came out onto the shallows to escape the net. And the fishermen simply did not dare to catch them, despite the reach of the prey. A similar giant pike, which can be judged not only by descriptions and stories, was caught in Lake Ilmen. She weighed 34 kilograms. And the authenticity of the capture of a large predator is confirmed by a black and white photograph, which can easily be attributed to the series - photos of the largest river fish.
Predators weighing 12-16 kg even now often become prey for winter pike fishermen.
Carp and carp
According to the information presented in the books of L.P. Sabaneeva, carp and its cultivated variety carp were in ancient times truly gigantic size and weight. The record holder of that time can be called a carp weighing more than three pounds, or more precisely, 55.6 kg. This fish was caught with hooks, gear that is now considered poaching. There were rumors of a 68.5 kg carp caught in a net. Nowadays, these fish also come in large sizes and heavy weight. At least, carp weighing 20-30 kg are considered not very rare prey, especially in the lower reaches of the Volga, and are called trophy fish that every angler dreams of catching.
These powerful and large fish, encased in strong silver-golden scales, are also included in the category of the largest freshwater fish, only among the relatively peaceful underwater inhabitants. Why - conditionally? Any, even the most herbivorous and peaceful-looking fish, having reached a certain age and size, becomes to some extent a predator and is not averse to swallowing fry.
In addition to the Volga delta, large carp are found in paid reservoirs, where, with proper feeding and regulated fishing, they quickly reach large sizes and weights, since the peculiarity of these fish is their rapid growth.
The largest river fish in the world
The largest freshwater fish or river monsters are also widely represented in the rivers of other continents. Moreover, some of them are related to our Russian predators, for example, the American musky pike. It is also called the giant pike.
musky pike
The Muskinong is almost no different in appearance from our pike, but in size this predator is comparable to our pikes of previous centuries and long ago. External differences can only be found by a specialist or a person who knows these differences in advance. Firstly, the musky has no scales on the lower part of the gill covers and the edges of the caudal fin are sharper than those of our common pike. The muskie is distinguished by the sensory points that the lower jaw of the fish has. This pike has more of them than the Russian predator, most often over seven. Pike in our waters have no more than six. The color and stripes that turn into spots often coincide, especially if the conditions, that is, when the color of the water and soil also coincide in the American predator with the living conditions of our pikes.
Maskinongs can be up to 1.8 meters long and sometimes weigh 30-32 kg. But most often fishermen come across them using sports gear, so to speak, in the middle weight categories - 2.5 m long and weighing 16 kg.
Like our pikes, muskies prefer river bays with weak currents or standing water. The hunting objects of these predatory fish are also similar. Like the pikes of our rivers and lakes, muskellunges hunt fish and all living things that fit into their mouths: chicks, birds, frogs, crayfish, snakes, mice, muskrats.
The armored pike is also a relative of the pikes mentioned above, but rather a distant relative. It is also a serious fish that falls under the definition of being the largest freshwater fish.
Bull shark
But this is a real monster, which cannot be called a good fish, because, like all sharks, this predator is a real aggressor. The bull shark is found both in the vast expanses of the ocean and in the coastal zone. But this same shark can also be found in the most ordinary freshwater reservoir: river or even in a stream, as long as the depth of this stream allows this powerful fish, which often reaches a size of more than 2.5 meters and a weight of 312 kilograms, to be accommodated in it. The insidious feature of such a shark is that it often stays in the shallow coastal waters of beaches and can be dangerous, as it is an aggressive and ruthless predator. This shark easily falls into the category of one of the largest fish in the world and can often be found in a series of photos of the largest river fish.
White sturgeon
The white sturgeon is also a giant fish and among the sturgeon family of North America, it is its largest representative. Moreover, this fish can be called the largest among freshwater fish of this continent. The largest individuals of this species reach a length of about 4 meters and these sturgeons weigh almost half a ton. These fish also differ in their life expectancy, which is 100 years or even more. Therefore, old fish, one can say without exaggeration, have seen a lot in their lifetime.
Nile perch
This is another relative of our domestic fish, or rather, perch, familiar to all “sailors”. Only the size of the overseas brother is impressive and awe-inspiring. As the name suggests, this “perch,” reaching a length of 1.8 meters and a weight of more than 180 kg, lives in the always muddy Nile River, and also in the rivers of Niger, Congo, and Senegal. Like our perches, the Nile perch has yellow eyes with black pupils. But the coloring of this perch is somewhat different, without stripes, instead of which the sides shine with silver with some bluish tints, which makes this seasoned predator very beautiful.
Alligator garfish
The largest river fish in the world are represented by another species that is truly a monster. This is an alligator garfish. The appearance of this monster is almost a copy of the alligator crocodile, at least that's what the head of the fish looks like. But, despite such a picturesque and fiercely aggressive appearance, these fish have never attacked people before, at least no such information has been received. The size of these inhabitants of the water depths is also not offended. Garfish alligators can weigh up to 140 kilograms with a length of 3 meters.
Arapaima gigantea
This is a fish that really deserves to be on the list - the largest freshwater fish. Specimens 3 meters long and weighing more than 68 kilograms are not uncommon in the waters of the Amazon. Confirmed data speak of arapaima weighing up to 200 kg. This is a fast and furious predator that not only manages to catch up and swallow fish, but also jumps to reach birds and small animals sitting in trees.
Arapaima can live in the most impassable swamps, where the water is very poor in oxygen. But this cunning fish has adapted to breathe atmospheric air, for which it needs to rise to the surface of the reservoir at certain intervals, which are about 20 minutes. The giant arapaima is protected by very dense and strong scales, but this did not save it from extermination by local native tribes, who from time immemorial caught this fish for food. These fish are now being protected and are likely to be farmed.
Tiger goliath fish
The largest freshwater fish will be horrified by the appearance of another real monster, which will frighten even any predator with the sight of its terrible teeth, since tiger goliath fish is a giant piranha. In addition to the fact that it is one of the largest fish and reaches a length of 180 cm and weighs 50 kilograms, this fish is also the most dangerous among all types of predatory fish.
And this danger threatens weak man, and no less bloodthirsty strong crocodile. And the teeth of the goliath fish even bite through metal leashes if the metal chosen for them is not the most durable. Apart from the Congo River, these fish are not found anywhere else.
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We present a list of the most common freshwater (river) fish. Names with photos and descriptions for each river fish: its appearance, the taste of the fish, habitats, fishing methods, time and method of spawning.
Pike perch, like perch, prefers only clean water, saturated with oxygen and conducive to the normal functioning of the fish. This is pure fish without any ingredients. The growth of pike perch can be up to 35 cm. Its maximum weight can reach up to 20 kg. Pike perch meat is light, without excess fat and very tasty and pleasant. It contains quite a lot of minerals, such as phosphorus, chlorine, chlorine, sulfur, potassium, fluorine, cobalt, iodine, and also a lot of vitamin P. Judging by the composition, pike perch meat is very healthy.
Bersch, like pike perch, is considered a relative of perch. It can grow up to 45 cm in length, weighing 1.4 kg. It is found in rivers that flow into the Black and Caspian Seas. Its diet includes small fish, like a gudgeon. The meat is almost the same as that of pike perch, although a little softer.
Perch prefers reservoirs with clean water. These can be rivers, ponds, lakes, reservoirs, etc. Perch is the most common predator, but you will never find it where the water is turbid and dirty. To catch perch, fairly thin gear is used. Catching it is very interesting and entertaining.
The ruff has a peculiar appearance with the presence of very spiny fins, which protects it from predators. The ruff also loves clean water, but depending on its habitat it can change its color. It grows no more than 18 cm in length and gains weight up to 400 grams. Its length and weight directly depend on the food supply in the pond. Its habitat extends to almost all European countries. It is found in rivers, lakes, ponds and even seas. Spawning takes place over 2 days or more. The ruff always prefers to be at depth, as it does not like sunlight.
This fish is from the perch family, but few people know it, since it is not found in this area. It is distinguished by an elongated fusiform body and the presence of a head with a protruding snout. The fish is not large, no more than one foot long. It is found mainly in the Danube River and its adjacent tributaries. Its diet includes various worms, mollusks and small fish. The chop fish spawns in April with bright yellow eggs.
This is a freshwater fish that is found in almost all bodies of water. the globe, but only in those that have clean, oxygenated water. When the oxygen concentration in the water decreases, the pike dies. Pike grows up to one and a half meters in length, weighing 3.5 kg. The body and head of the pike are characterized by an elongated shape. It’s not for nothing that it’s called an underwater torpedo. Pike spawning occurs when the water warms up from 3 to 6 degrees. It is a predatory fish and feeds on other species of fish such as roach, etc. Pike meat is considered dietary because it contains very little fat. In addition, pike meat contains a lot of protein, which is easily absorbed by the human body. Pike can live up to 25 years. Its meat can be stewed, fried, boiled, baked, stuffed, etc.
This fish lives in ponds, lakes, rivers, and reservoirs. Its color is largely determined by the composition of the water that is available in a given reservoir. By appearance very similar to rudd. The roach's diet includes various algae, larvae of various insects, as well as fish fry.
With the arrival of winter, the roach goes to wintering pits. It spawns later than pike, around the end of spring. Before spawning begins, it becomes covered with large pimples. The caviar of this fish is quite small, transparent, with a green tint.
Bream is an inconspicuous fish, but its meat is characterized by excellent taste. It can be found where there is calm water or a weak current. Bream lives no more than 20 years, but grows very slowly. For example, a 10-year-old specimen can gain weight no more than 3 or 4 kilograms.
Bream has a dark silvery tint. The average life expectancy is 7 to 8 years. During this period, it grows up to 41 cm in length and has an average weight of about 800 g. Bream spawns in the spring.
This is a sedentary fish species with a bluish-gray color. The silver bream lives for about 15 years and grows to a length of up to 35 cm, with a weight of 1.2 kg. Silver bream, like bream, grows quite slowly. They prefer bodies of water with standing water or slow currents. In spring and autumn, the silver bream gathers in numerous flocks (dense flocks), hence its name. The silver bream feeds on small insects and their larvae, as well as mollusks. Spawning occurs at the end of spring or beginning of summer, when the water temperature rises to +15ºС-+17ºС. The spawning period lasts from 1 to 1.5 months. Silver bream meat is considered not tasty, especially since it contains a lot of bones.
This fish has a dark yellow-golden hue. It can live up to 30 years, but already at 7-8 years its growth stops. During this time, the carp manages to grow up to 1 meter in length and gain a weight of 3 kg. Carp is considered a freshwater fish, but it is also found in the Caspian Sea. Its diet includes young shoots of reeds, as well as eggs of spawned fish. With the arrival of autumn, its diet expands and begins to include various insects and invertebrates.
This fish belongs to the carp family and can live for about a hundred years. May eat undercooked potatoes, bread crumbs or cake. Distinctive feature Cyprinidae is the presence of a mustache. Carp is considered a voracious and insatiable fish. Carp lives in rivers, ponds, lakes, and reservoirs where there is a muddy bottom. Carp likes to pass pliable silt through its mouth, in search of various bugs and worms.
Carp spawns only when the water begins to warm up to a temperature of +18ºС-+20ºС. Can gain weight up to 9 kg. In China it is a food fish, and in Japan it is a decorative food.
A very strong fish. Many experienced fishermen fish for it, using powerful and reliable gear.
Crucian carp is the most common fish. It is found in almost all bodies of water, regardless of the quality of the water and the concentration of oxygen in it. Crucian carp is able to live in reservoirs where other fish will immediately die. It belongs to the carp family, and in appearance it is similar to carp, but does not have a mustache. In winter, if there is very little oxygen in the water, crucian carp hibernate and remain in this state until spring. Crucian carp spawns at a temperature of about 14 degrees.
Tench prefers ponds with dense vegetation and covered with thick duckweed. Tench can be caught well from August, before the onset of real cold weather. Tench meat has excellent taste characteristics. It’s not for nothing that tench is called the king’s fish. In addition to the fact that tench can be fried, baked, stewed, it makes an incredible fish soup.
The chub is considered a freshwater fish and is found exclusively in rivers with fast currents. It is a representative of the carp family. It grows up to 80 cm in length and can weigh up to 8 kg. It is considered a semi-fat fish, since its diet consists of fish fry, various insects, and small frogs. It prefers to be under trees and plants hanging over the water, since various living creatures very often fall into the water from them. It spawns at temperatures from +12ºС to +17ºС.
Its habitat includes almost all rivers and reservoirs of European countries. Prefers to stay at depth, in the presence of a slow current. In winter, it shows the same activity as in summer, since it does not hibernate. Considered to be a fairly hardy fish. It can have a length of 35 to 63 cm, with a weight of 2 to 2.8 kg.
Can live up to 20 years. The diet consists of both plant and animal foods. Ide spawning occurs in the spring, at water temperatures from 2 to 13 degrees.
It is also a representative of the family of carp fish species and has a dark bluish-gray color. It grows in length up to 120 cm and can reach a weight of 12 kg. Found in the Black and Caspian Seas. Selects areas with fast currents and avoids stagnant water.
There are sabrefish with silvery, grayish and yellow coloring. It can gain weight up to 2 kg, with a length of up to 60 cm. It can live for about 9 years.
Chehon is growing very fast and gaining weight. Found in rivers, lakes, reservoirs and seas such as the Baltic Sea. IN at a young age feeds on zoo- and phytoplankton, and with the arrival of autumn switches to feeding on insects.
It is easy to confuse rudd and roach, but rudd has a more attractive appearance. Over the course of 19 years of life, it is able to gain weight of 2.4 kg, with a length of 51 cm. It is found, for the most part, in rivers that flow into the Caspian, Azov, Black and Aral seas.
The basis of the rudd's diet is food of plant and animal origin, but most of all it likes to eat caviar of mollusks. Enough healthy fish with a set of minerals such as phosphorus, chromium, as well as vitamin P, proteins and fats.
The podust has a long body and it chooses areas with a fast current. It grows in length up to 40 cm and at the same time has a weight of up to 1.6 kg. Podust lives for about 10 years. It feeds from the bottom of the reservoir, collecting microscopic algae. This fish is distributed throughout Europe. Spawns at a water temperature of 6-8 degrees.
Bleak is a ubiquitous fish, known to almost any person who has fished with a fishing rod in a pond at least once. Bleak belongs to the family of carp fish species. Can grow up to small sizes in length (12-15 cm) with a weight of about 100 grams. Found in rivers flowing into the Black, Baltic and Sea of Azov, as well as in large reservoirs with clean, non-stagnant water.
This is a fish, the same as bleak, but slightly smaller in size and weight. With a length of 10 cm, it can weigh only 2 grams. Able to live up to 6 years. It feeds on algae and zooplankton, but grows very slowly.
It also belongs to the family of carp fish species, and it has a spindle-shaped body shape. It grows in length up to 15-22 cm. It is carried out in reservoirs where there is a current and there is pure water. The gudgeon feeds on insect larvae and small invertebrates. It spawns in the spring, like most fish.
This type of fish also belongs to the carp family. It feeds practically on food of plant origin. It can grow up to 1 m 20 cm in length and weigh up to 32 kg. It has high growth rates. Grass carp is distributed throughout the world.
The diet of silver carp consists of microscopic particles of plant origin. It is a large representative of the carp family. This is a heat-loving fish. The silver carp has teeth that are capable of grinding vegetation. It is easy to acclimatize. Silver carp are grown artificially.
Due to the fact that it grows quickly, it is of interest for industrial breeding. Can gain up to 8 kg of weight in a short time. For the most part, it is distributed in Central Asia and in China. It spawns in spring, loves water areas where there is an intense current.
This is a very large representative of freshwater bodies, capable of growing up to 3 meters in length and weighing up to 400 kg. Catfish has a brown tint, but does not have scales. Inhabits almost all reservoirs of Europe and Russia, where appropriate conditions exist: clean water, the presence of aquatic vegetation and suitable depth.
This is a small representative of the catfish family, which prefers small reservoirs (channels) with warm water. In our time, it was brought from America, where there is quite a lot of it and most fishermen fish for it.
Its spawning occurs in conditions when the water temperature reaches +28ºС. Therefore, it can only be found in the southern regions.
This is a fish from the family of river eels and prefers freshwater bodies of water. This is a snake-like predator that is found in the Baltic, Black, Azov and Barents Seas. Prefers to be in areas with a clay bottom. Its diet consists of small animals, crayfish, worms, larvae, snails, etc. Capable of growing up to 47 cm in length and gaining weight up to 8 kg.
This is a heat-loving fish that is found in reservoirs located in large climatic zones. Its appearance resembles that of a snake. A very strong fish that is not so easy to catch.
It is a representative of the codfish and is similar in appearance to a catfish, but it does not grow to the size of a catfish. This is a cold-loving fish that leads an active lifestyle in winter. Its spawning also occurs during the winter months. It hunts mainly at night, while leading a benthic lifestyle. Burbot refers to industrial species of fish.
This is a small fish with a long body covered with very small scales. It can easily be confused with an eel or a snake if you have never seen one in your life. It grows up to 30 cm in length, or even more if growth conditions are favorable. It is found in small rivers or ponds with a muddy bottom. It prefers to be closer to the bottom, and can be seen on the surface during rain or thunderstorms.
The loach belongs to the family salmon species fish Due to the fact that the fish does not have scales, it got its name. Grows to small sizes. Its meat does not decrease in volume under the influence of low temperatures. Characterized by the presence of fatty acids, such as omega-3, that can resist inflammatory processes.
It lives in rivers and feeds on various types of fish. Distributed in rivers of Ukraine. Prefers non-deep water areas. It can grow up to 25 cm in length. It reproduces by caviar at water temperatures within +8ºС. After spawning, it can live no more than 2 years.
The lifespan of this fish is considered to be about 27 years. It grows in length up to 1 m 25 cm, gaining weight up to 16 kg. It is distinguished by its dark gray-brown color. In winter, it practically does not feed and goes into the depths. It has valuable commercial value.
This fish lives only in the Danube basin and is not common anywhere else. It belongs to the family of salmon fish species and is a unique representative of the fish fauna of Ukraine. Danube salmon is listed in the Red Book of Ukraine and fishing for it is prohibited. It can live up to 20 years and feeds mainly on small fish.
It also belongs to the salmon family and prefers rivers with rapid currents and cold water. It grows in length from 25 to 55 cm, while gaining weight from 0.2 to 2 kg. The trout diet includes small crustaceans and insect larvae.
It is a representative of the Eudoshidae family, reaches a size of about 10 cm, while gaining a weight of 300 grams. It is found in the basins of the Danube and Dniester rivers. At the first danger, it buries itself in the mud. Spawning occurs in March or April. Likes to feed on fry and small invertebrates.
This fish is caught on an industrial scale in Edver and the Urals. Spawns at temperatures no higher than +10ºС. This is a predatory fish species that loves fast-flowing rivers.
This freshwater variety fish that belongs to the carp family. It grows up to 60 cm in length and gains up to 5 kg of weight. The fish is dark in color and is common in the Caspian, Black and Azov seas.
River fish without bones
Virtually no bones:
- In maritime language.
- In fish of the sturgeon family, belonging to the order Chordata.
Despite the fact that water has a certain density, the body of the fish is ideally suited for movement in such conditions. And this applies not only to river fish, but also to sea fish.
Typically, its body has an elongated, torpedo-like body shape. In extreme cases, its body has a spindle-shaped shape, which facilitates unhindered movement in the water. Such fish include salmon, podust, chub, asp, sabrefish, herring, etc. In still water, most fish have a flat body, flattened on both sides. Such fish include crucian carp, bream, rudd, roach, etc.
Among the many species of river fish there are both peaceful fish and real predators. They are distinguished by the presence of sharp teeth and a wide mouth, which allows them to swallow fish and other living creatures without much difficulty. Similar fish include pike, burbot, catfish, pike perch, perch and others. A predator such as a pike during an attack is capable of developing a huge initial speed. In other words, it literally swallows its prey instantly. Predators such as perch always hunt in schools. Pike perch leads a bottom-dwelling lifestyle and begins hunting only at night. This indicates his uniqueness, or rather his unique vision. He is able to see his prey in complete darkness.
But there are also small predators that do not have large mouths. Although, such a predator as the asp does not have a huge mouth, such as a catfish, for example, and it feeds only on young fish.
Many fish, depending on their habitat conditions, can have different shades. In addition, in different bodies of water there may be different food base, which can significantly affect the size of the fish.
