Surprisingly, the ocean is not the only place where giant monsters are found. Who knows what the hell is waiting for you in the nearest body of water? I wanted to swim - I went into the water along the swimming trunks, stood for 20 seconds, got used to some water and boule ... in someone's mouth.

Siberian taimen

Siberian taimen or Siberian salmon, as it is also called. It occurs in a variety of colors, but in most cases the head has a greenish tint, closer to the tail, turning into red.

Taimen is considered the largest salmon in the world and usually weighs between 15-30 kg. That's just the largest specimen, which was caught from the Kotui River (Russia), weighed 104 kg.

Indian carp

Carp are found in water bodies all over the world. And sometimes even experienced fishermen do not know that carp has every opportunity to grow to gigantic sizes. But no one gives them to him. That is why we believe that carp is a small fish that Murzik likes so much.

But among carps there is a carp-like patch. This type of fish is also called Indian carp. Patlya is the largest representative of the entire carp family, as it reaches about 182 cm in length. The closest relative of the Indian carp is the "white Amur" carp - about 150 cm.

Nile perch

The honorary 8th place among the river giants is occupied by the Nile perch. Among all the perches, you guessed it, the Nile is the largest.

It is found mainly in the rivers: Nile, Congo, Senegal, and also Niger. It has a silver color, black eyes with yellow "rings" on the rim, and a length of 1.8 meters. We have not yet deliberately mentioned the weight of the largest representative of perches from the Nile - 182 kg.

catfish

Among all fish, catfish is the only specimen that prefers to conduct its business at the bottom. The largest such instance was the lucky one with a weight of 227 kg.

paddlefish

It used to be believed that paddlefish uproot vegetation from the bottom of rivers and lakes. But that was when they were widespread in the rivers of the United States.

Due to the construction of dams and dams, paddlefish could not migrate and therefore part of the fish population was significantly reduced.

However, of those "lucky ones" who managed to be caught, the maximum length was recorded - 230 cm with a weight of 89 kg.

bull shark

How to catch more fish?

I have been active fishing for quite some time and have found many ways to improve the bite. And here are the most effective ones:

1. Cool activator. Attracts fish in cold and warm water with the help of pheromones included in the composition and stimulates their appetite. It is a pity that Rosprirodnadzor wants to ban its sale.
2. More sensitive gear. Reviews and instructions for other types of gear you can find on the pages of my site.
3. Lures using pheromones.

You can get the rest of the secrets of successful fishing for free by reading our other articles on the site.

You can start panicking right now. As you know, there is no shark in the river. But that's not true. The fact is that usually sharks are found in warm seas or coastal areas of the oceans. But if she swims into a rather deep stream, then she can swim along it into a freshwater reservoir. Female bull sharks are larger than males. In length, the average shark girl reaches 3 meters, with a weight of 312 kg.

The bull shark is considered the largest freshwater fish in the world and can prey on the victim, hiding in the shallow waters of the beaches.

So feel free to put in your beach bag not only sunscreen with a towel, but also a long-range automatic rifle.

white sturgeon

The family is not without mutants. The white sturgeon is one of the largest fish among the sturgeon family. This fish is the pride and the largest social heritage of British Columbia, and now you will understand why.

In the early 2000s, a white sturgeon 4 meters long and weighing 485 kg was caught. By the way, this fish has a long life span of 100 years (if you're lucky). And because of the long life expectancy, males are able to breed only from the age of 14, and females reaching "adulthood" - 18.

Alligator Gar

Alligator Sargan is like an alligator fish, only so far without a single case of an attack on people. Maybe she just doesn't leave witnesses.

Garfish can grow up to 3 meters in length and weigh from 140 kg.

Giant freshwater stingray

The only fish among the entire list of the largest fish that inhabit fresh water and which is not even afraid of sharks is the freshwater stingray.

Freshwater stingrays come in a variety of sizes. The largest individuals that were caught weighed from 500-600 kg.

Today, the giant freshwater stingray is on the brink of extinction due to overfishing. There were times when, in a rage, with a bunch of obscenities in the fish language, a stingray drowned a fishing boat.

Beluga

In addition, the beluga is considered not just the largest freshwater fish on the planet. The largest beluga that was lucky enough to be caught (probably by a tanker) weighed 1580 kg with a length of 7.5 meters. Life expectancy up to 120 years.

The saddest thing about this story is that fish of this size are becoming rarer and rarer due to the “black product” that they lay.

05/11/2015 at 16:22 · Johnny · 33 350

Top 10 largest freshwater fish in the world

As soon as large fish were discovered in the oceans and seas, people began to fear them. Everyone was afraid of how the big freshwater inhabitants satisfy their hunger. After all, the larger a fish, the more food it needs to feed. Therefore, in order to satisfy the needs of their growing body for food, freshwater giants begin to eat their smaller relatives of different species. Typically, fish are classified according to features such as genus, species, and the like. We tried to do it based on their size. Here is the list of top 10 largest freshwater fish in the world.

10.

Taimen is a large fish from the salmon family, so it is often called nothing more than “Russian salmon”. Its habitat is the large rivers and lakes of Siberia, the Far East and Altai. The predator is able to reach 1 m or more in length and up to 55-60 kg in weight. This species is famous for its aggressive and merciless character. It is believed that the taimen is able to feed on its own cubs. There are no food restrictions for this freshwater species. Russian salmon eats literally everything that comes in its way.

9. Catfish

Catfish is a large freshwater scaleless fish. It lives in lakes, rivers of the European part of Russia, as well as in Europe and the Aral Sea basin. In good conditions, this species grows up to 5 m in length and at the same time gains weight up to 300-400 kg. Despite their large size, the body of catfish is extremely flexible. This allows an active nocturnal predator to quickly get their own food. There is a misconception that this species feeds only on carrion or spoiled food. But it's not. In fact, the main food for catfish are fry, small crustaceans and aquatic insects. And then, such a diet in freshwater fish is only at an early stage of development. Later, it is replenished with live fish, various shellfish and other freshwater animals. There are even cases when the largest catfish attacked small domestic animals and waterfowl.

8.

You can meet the Nile perch in the rivers, lakes and ponds of tropical Africa. It is especially common in the Ethiopian region. The body of a restive predator reaches a length of 1-2 meters and a weight of 200 or more kg. The Nile perch eats crustaceans and various types of fish.

7.

Beluga belongs to the sturgeon family. This large fish lives in the depths of the Azov, Black and Caspian seas. Beluga can reach a whole ton in weight. At the same time, its body length will be more than 4 meters. Real long-livers belong to this species. The predator can live up to 100 years. In food, the beluga prefers such types of fish as herring, gobies, sprat, etc. Also, the fish likes to eat shellfish, and sometimes it hunts seal cubs - pups.

6.

The white sturgeon is the largest fish found in North America and is ranked sixth in our ranking. biggest fish in the world. It is distributed in fresh waters from the Aleutian Islands to central California. The predator grows up to 6 m in length and can gain weight of 800 kg. This species of large fish is extremely aggressive. Mostly white sturgeon lives at the bottom. The predator feeds on mollusks, worms, and fish.

5.

The paddlefish is a huge freshwater fish that lives primarily in the Mississippi River. It is also possible to meet representatives of this species in a number of large rivers that flow into the Gulf of Mexico. The predatory paddlefish does not pose a threat to humans. However, he likes to feed on individuals of his own species or other fish. And yet most of those who belong to this species are herbivores. They prefer to eat only herbs and plants that usually grow in the depths of fresh water. The maximum recorded body length of the paddlefish is 221 cm. The largest fish can gain weight up to 90 kg. The average life expectancy of a paddlefish is 55 years.

4.

Carp is a very large omnivorous fish. This species lives in almost all freshwater rates, reservoirs, rivers and lakes. At the same time, carp prefers to populate quiet, stagnant waters with a hard clay and slightly silted bottom. It is believed that the largest individuals live in Thailand. Carp can reach a weight of more than one hundred kilograms. Typically, fish of this species live for about 15-20 years. The diet of carp includes small fish. Also, predators like to feast on caviar of other fish, crustaceans, worms, insect larvae. During the hunt, it is typical for this species to kill a large number of small fish, because the carp needs food all the time, since it belongs to such fish as stomachless.

3. Skat

Third place on our list of ten most largest freshwater fish in the world occupies a ramp. The stingray is a beautiful predatory fish that can be found both in tropical seas, in the waters of the Arctic and Antarctica, as well as in fresh water. Most of all fish of this species are common in Asia. Inhabit slopes and shallow water, and depth. The most gigantic individuals reach up to 7-8 m in length. In this case, the slope can gain weight up to 600 kg. Large fish feed mainly on echinoderms, crayfish, mollusks and small fish.

2. Giant Mekong catfish

The giant Mekong catfish lives in the fresh waters of Thailand. It is considered the largest member of its species and therefore is often considered and studied separately from its congeners. The body width of the giant Mekong catfish sometimes reaches more than 2.5 m. The maximum weight of this fish species is 600 kg. Giant Mekong catfish feed on live fish and small freshwater animals.

1. Alligator Gar

Alligator Gar (armored pike) is considered a real monster. This exotic-looking giant fish has been living in the fresh waters of rivers in the southeastern United States of America for over 100 million years. This species is named for its elongated snout and double row of fangs. Alligator Gar has the ability to spend time on land, but not more than 2 hours. The weight of the fish can reach 166 kg. Three meters is the usual length for individuals of this species. Alligator Gar is known for his ferocious and bloodthirsty nature. It feeds on smaller fish, but repeated cases of predator attacks on people have been recorded.

Catching the largest freshwater fish in the world: video

We present a list of the most common freshwater (river) fish. Names with photos and descriptions for each river fish: its appearance, fish taste, habitats, fishing methods, time and method of spawning.

Pike perch, like perch, prefers only clean water, saturated with oxygen and contributing to the normal life of the fish. This is a 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 a lot of minerals, such as phosphorus, chlorine, chlorine, sulfur, potassium, fluorine, cobalt, iodine, as well as a lot of vitamin P. Judging by the composition, pike perch meat is very healthy.

Bersh, like pike perch, is considered a relative of perch. It can grow in length up to 45 cm, with a weight of 1.4 kg. It is found in rivers that flow into the Black and Caspian Seas. His diet includes a small fish, like a minnow. The meat is almost the same as that of pike perch, although a little softer.

The perch prefers reservoirs with clear 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 muddy and dirty. Quite thin gear is used for perch fishing. His fishing is very interesting and entertaining.

The ruff has a peculiar appearance with very prickly fins, which protects it from predators. Ruff also loves clean water, but depending on the habitat, it can change its shade. It grows in length no more than 18 cm 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 is carried out for 2 days or more. Ruff always prefers to be at a depth, as he does not like sunlight.

This fish is from the perch family, but few people know it, since it is not found in such an area. It is distinguished by an elongated spindle-shaped body and the presence of a head with a snout protruding forward. The fish is not large, not more than one foot long. It is found mainly in the Danube River and adjacent tributaries. Her diet includes various worms, mollusks and small fish. The chop fish spawns in the month of April with caviar of a bright yellow hue.

This is a freshwater fish that is found in almost all water bodies of the globe, but only in those that have clean, oxygenated water. With a decrease in the concentration of oxygen in the water, the pike dies. Pike grows in length up to one and a half meters, with a weight of 3.5 kg. The body and head of the pike is characterized by an elongated shape. No wonder it is called an underwater torpedo. Pike spawning occurs when the water warms up from 3 to 6 degrees. It is a carnivorous fish and feeds on other fish species such as roach etc. Pike meat is considered dietary because it contains very little fat. In addition, there is a lot of protein in pike meat, 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, reservoirs. Its color is largely determined by the composition of the water that is available in this reservoir. In appearance, it is very similar to the rudd. The diet of roach includes various algae, larvae of various insects, as well as fish fry.

With the advent of winter, roach goes to wintering pits. Spawns later than pike, somewhere at the end of spring. Before spawning begins, it is covered with large pimples. The caviar of this fish is quite small, transparent, with a green tint.

The bream is an inconspicuous fish, but its meat is characterized by excellent taste indicators. It can be found where there is still 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.

The bream has a dark silver hue. 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. The bream spawns in spring.

This is a sedentary type of fish with a bluish-gray color. The bream lives for about 15 years and grows up to 35 cm in length, with a weight of 1.2 kg. Gustera, like bream, grows rather slowly. Prefer ponds with stagnant water or a slow current. In spring and autumn, the silver bream gathers in numerous flocks (dense flocks), hence it got its name. The white bream feeds on small insects and their larvae, as well as mollusks. Spawning takes place 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. The meat of the bream is considered not tasty, especially since it contains a lot of bones.

This fish is distinguished by a dark yellow-golden hue. It can live up to 30 years, but already at 7-8 years old, its growth stops. During this time, the carp manages to grow up to 1 meter in length and gain 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 caviar of spawned fish. With the advent of autumn, its diet expands and various insects and invertebrates begin to enter it.

This fish belongs to the carp family and can live for about a hundred years. Can eat undercooked potatoes, breadcrumbs or cake. A distinctive feature of cyprinids is the presence of a mustache. Carp is considered a voracious and insatiable fish. Carp lives in rivers, ponds, lakes, reservoirs, where there is a muddy bottom. The carp loves to pass the pliable mud 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 an ornamental food.

A very strong fish. Many experienced anglers are engaged in fishing for this, using powerful and reliable gear for this.

Carp is the most common fish. It is found in almost all water bodies, regardless of the quality of the water and the concentration of oxygen in it. Crucian carp is able to live in water bodies 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 hibernates and remains in this state until spring. The crucian spawns at a temperature of about 14 degrees.

Tench prefers ponds with dense vegetation and covered with dense duckweed. Tench is well caught from August, until the onset of real cold weather. Tench meat has excellent taste characteristics. No wonder the tench is called the royal 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 fast-flowing rivers. It is a member of the carp family. It grows up to 80 cm in length and can weigh up to 8 kg. It is considered a bold fish, as 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. Spawns at temperatures from +12ºС to +17ºС.

Its habitat includes almost all rivers and reservoirs of European states. 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 a water temperature of 2 to 13 degrees.

It is also a member 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. At a young age, it feeds on zoo- and phytoplankton, and with the advent of autumn, it 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 mostly in rivers that flow into the Caspian, Azov, Black and Aral Seas.

The basis of the diet of the rudd is food of plant and animal origin, but most of all it likes to eat caviar of mollusks. A fairly 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 an ubiquitous fish, known to almost anyone who has ever fished with a fishing rod in a pond. The bleak belongs to the family of carp fish species. It can grow to small sizes in length (12-15 cm) with a weight of about 100 grams. It is found in rivers flowing into the Black, Baltic and Azov Seas, as well as in large reservoirs with clean, not stagnant water.

It is a fish similar to the 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, while growing very slowly.

It also belongs to the family of carp fish species, and it has a spindle-shaped body. It grows in length up to 15-22 cm. It is carried out in reservoirs where there is a current and there is clean water. The gudgeon feeds on insect larvae and small invertebrates. Spawns in spring, like most fish.

This type of fish also belongs to the carp family. Feeds almost food of plant origin. It can grow in length up to 1 m 20 cm and weigh up to 32 kg. It has a high growth rate. White carp is distributed throughout the world.

The diet of the 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 can grind vegetation. It lends itself easily to acclimatization. Silver carp is grown artificially.

Due to the fact that it grows rapidly, 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 reservoirs, 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 water bodies in Europe and Russia, where there are appropriate conditions: 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 are quite a lot of it and most anglers are engaged in catching it.

Its spawning occurs in conditions when the water temperature reaches +28ºС. Therefore, it can be found only in the southern regions.

It is a fish from the river eel family and prefers freshwater reservoirs. 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. Able to grow in length up to 47 cm and gain weight up to 8 kg.

This is a heat-loving fish that is found in water bodies located in large climatic zones. Its appearance resembles a snake. A very strong fish that is not so easy to catch.

It is a representative of cod-like fish and looks like a catfish in appearance, 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 in length up to 30 cm, or even more, if growth conditions favor. It is found in small rivers or ponds where there is a muddy bottom. It prefers to be closer to the bottom, and on the surface it can be seen during rain or thunderstorms.

The char belongs to the salmon family of fish species. Due to the fact that the fish does not have scales, it got its name. Grows to a small size. Its meat under the influence of low temperatures does not decrease in volume. It is 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 the rivers of Ukraine. Prefers shallow water areas. It can grow in length up to 25 cm. It reproduces by caviar, at a water temperature within + 8ºС. After spawning, it can live no more than 2- + x years.

The life expectancy 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 a dark gray-brown color. In winter, it practically does not feed and goes to the depths. It has a valuable commercial value.

This fish lives only in the basin of the Danube arm 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 it is forbidden to catch it. Can live up to 20 years, feeds mainly on small fish.

It also belongs to the salmon family and prefers rivers with a rapid current and cold water. It grows in length from 25 to 55 cm, while gaining weight from 0.2 to 2 kg. The diet of trout includes small crustaceans and insect larvae.

It is a representative of the Evdoshkov family, reaches a size of about 10 cm, while gaining a weight of 300 grams. It occurs in the basins of the Danube and Dniester rivers. At the first danger, it burrows into the silt. Spawning occurs in March or April. Likes to eat fry and small invertebrates.

This fish is caught on an industrial scale in Edver, the Urals. Spawns at temperatures not higher than +10ºС. This is a predatory fish species that loves fast-flowing rivers.

This is a freshwater species of 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 has a dark 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 chordate order.

Despite the fact that the 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, but also to sea fish.

Typically, her body has an elongated, torpedo-like body shape. In extreme cases, her body is spindle-shaped, which contributes to unhindered movement in the water. These fish include salmon, podust, chub, asp, sabrefish, herring, etc. In still water, most fish have a flat flattened body on both sides. These fish include 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 makes it easy to swallow fish and other living creatures. Such fish include pike, burbot, catfish, pike perch, perch and others. Such a predator as a pike during an attack is capable of developing a huge initial speed. In other words, she literally instantly swallows her victim. Predators such as perch always hunt in packs. Pike perch leads a benthic lifestyle and starts hunting only at night. This testifies to his uniqueness, or rather, his unique vision. He is able to see his prey in absolute darkness.

But there are also small predators that do not differ in the large size of their mouths. Although, such a predator as an asp does not have a huge mouth, such as a catfish, for example, and it feeds only on fish fry.

Many fish, depending on habitat conditions, may have a different shade. In addition, in different reservoirs there may be a different food base, which can significantly affect the size of the fish.

Rivers and lakes hide in their depths many unusual creatures that most of us have never heard of. But it turns out that even well-known fish can surprise, because some of them grow to truly gigantic sizes. Let's take a closer look at the TOP 10 largest freshwater fish in the world.

Read also:

Mississippi cuirass

A large fish that has adapted to life in both fresh and salt water. The length of her body reaches 3 m, while her weight is about 130 kg. It is found in stagnant reservoirs and calm backwaters of the rivers of North and Central America. Another name for this predator is the alligator pike. She received it for the outward resemblance to the famous reptile. It is noteworthy that the Mississippi alligator is also called pike.

Nile perch

It is easy to guess where this representative of the perch-like order lives. It can be found in many major rivers and lakes in Africa. From the common perch, common in Europe and Russia, the Nile differs in its huge size. In length, it grows up to 2 m and eats up to 200 kg. For comparison: the body length of the European perch, as a rule, does not exceed 50 cm, and the weight of large specimens is from 2 to 3 kg. The Nile giant feeds on fish. Often he himself becomes an object of hunting for amateur fishermen from all over the world who dream of conquering such a giant.

brazilian arapaima

A photo: Citron / CC-BY-SA-3.0

One of the oldest fish on the planet lives in the basin of the South American Amazon River. She chooses places with dense aquatic vegetation, preferring to be near the bottom. The body length of a medium-sized individual is approximately 2 m, but there are also 3-meter specimens weighing up to 200 kg. For hunting, the arapaima rises to the surface of the water, where it attacks fish and other medium-sized animals. Can breathe atmospheric air, swallowing it every 5-20 minutes with a loud sound. Her body is covered with heavy-duty scales, which even a bloodthirsty piranha cannot bite through.

Chinese paddlefish

Fish with an outgrowth in the form of an oar on the muzzle is found only in the Yangtze River and its tributaries, occasionally entering large lakes and the Yellow Sea. It grows up to 3 m in length and can weigh 300 kg. Some sources indicate such maximum sizes of fish: length - 7 m, weight - up to 0.5 tons. Perhaps someone managed to meet such a giant, but this has not been documented anywhere.

common catfish

This mustachioed handsome man can be found in many lakes and rivers in Europe and the European part of the Russian Federation. According to official data, the body length of the largest specimen was 3 m, and the weight was 306 kg. According to historical data, earlier catfish grew up to 5 m, and could weigh 400 kg each. These nocturnal predators eat fish and shellfish and may attack birds and other small animals. Interestingly, in winter they lead a sedentary lifestyle and do not even eat.

Giant shilb catfish

Photo: Lynn Chan/flickr

This representative of the catfish order, although a "relative" of the common catfish, belongs to another family - the pangasievs. The length of his body can reach up to 3 m, weight - up to 350 kg. The giant catfish lives in southeast Asia, often found in the lower reaches of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers. Due to overfishing and some other negative factors, this species was endangered, and therefore it was taken under protection by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and listed in the Red Book. In many Asian countries, its extraction in nature is completely prohibited.

Giant freshwater stingray

Photo: Barry Rogge/Wikimedia Commons

An unusual fish, which during movement resembles a bird with huge wings, lives in the rivers and lakes of Southeast Asia and Australia. It grows up to 1.9 m wide, its weight can approach 600 kg. The color of the stingray on the back is usually dark brown, and the belly is white with dark stains at the edges. This allows him to remain almost invisible in opaque river water, which is probably why he has practically no natural enemies. The basis of the diet of the stingray is fish and living at the bottom of reservoirs.

blunt shark

This is one of the few that feel good in water with varying degrees of salinity. The bull shark has very impressive dimensions, growing up to 4 m in length and weighing about 600 kg. The predator lives in the tropics and subtropics of all oceans, often swims in rivers. Separate populations live in freshwater lakes on a permanent basis. Due to the extremely aggressive nature of the blunt-nosed, attacks involving them are recorded every year.

white sturgeon

It is found on the west coast of North America and is considered the largest freshwater fish there. Its body length can exceed 6 m, the weight limit is 816 kg. Interestingly, only the belly and head from below are painted white in the fish, while the back and sides have a grayish or gray-brownish tint. The scales are absent, it is replaced by special bone shields located in several places on the body. The diet of the white sturgeon consists of fish and worms, which it hunts mainly at the bottom.

Beluga

A large representative of the sturgeon family. The body length of this fish reaches 4.2 m, but its weight, approaching 1.5 tons, is more surprising. Unofficial data regarding its size seem simply incredible, because some sources speak of the existence of 9-meter beluga with a weight of about 2 tons The freshwater giantess lives in the Azov, Black and Caspian seas, swims into the rivers for spawning. This species of fish, unfortunately, was on the verge of extinction, therefore it was included in the IUCN Red List.

And marine fish, striking in their size. Some of them are not only completely safe for humans, but they themselves are an object of hunting, while it is better to stay away from others. We present to the attention of readers the top 10 largest fish in the world.

Giants include those fish whose length is more than two meters, and body weight exceeds 90 kilograms.

10. Giant grouper or guasa | 2.5 meters

Opens the top 10 largest fish in the world giant grouper or guasa. Distributed in the tropical shallow waters of the Caribbean Sea, found on the coast of Brazil. In length reaches 2.5 meters. It feeds on fish, small sea turtles, octopuses. The giant grouper is an endangered species and is prohibited from fishing. This has had an effect - the population of these giant fish is slowly, but increasing. Since the grouper actively defends its territory, it can attack a person in defense and inflict serious wounds.

9. Psephur or Chinese Vislonos | 3 meters

Living in the Yangtze River, it is the largest freshwater fish from the ray-finned class. The body length can reach three meters, and weight - 300 kilograms. There is evidence that there are specimens up to 7 meters long, but this information has not been documented.

Psefur feeds on crustaceans and small fish. It belongs to an endangered species and is not found anywhere else in the wild. Ninth place in the list of underwater giants.

8. Moon fish | 2 meters

The largest and most amazing bony fish that lives in warm seas everywhere on Earth. You can meet her from the Kuril Islands to Iceland. It looks rather unusual: the body of the fish is compressed from the sides and resembles a giant disk. The skin is covered not with scales, but with small bony tubercles. The size of the fish is amazing - 2 meters in length. Weight can reach 1.5 tons. Officially, the largest specimen was 3 meters long, but there is evidence that a moon-fish over 4 meters in size has been seen in the waters near Sydney.

Unlike many others biggest fish in the world, moon fish does not pose any danger to humans. On the contrary, it is an object of active fishing. Eighth place in our ranking.

7. Beluga | 4.2 meters

Ranked seventh in the top 10 largest fish in the world. This valuable freshwater fish is now on the verge of extinction. Lives in the Azov, Caspian and Black Seas. There is a lot of evidence of the capture of giant beluga. In 1989, a fish 4.2 meters long and weighing a ton was caught on the Volga. Now her stuffed animal is in the museum of the city of Astrakhan. Nowadays, fishermen come across small individuals, although there are cases of catching beluga weighing 150-300 kilograms.

Beluga is a large predator that feeds mainly on fish.

6. Giant freshwater stingray | 4.5 meters

Ranks sixth in the top 10 largest fish in the world. Many have heard of the sea stingray, but much less is known about its smaller freshwater counterparts. In length, the inhabitants of the rivers of Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand reach 4.5 meters. Weight averages 450-500 kg. You can meet these giants in Australia, New Guinea and the island of Borneo. For humans, they do not pose a great danger if properly handled.

Freshwater rays are armed with two large spikes located on the tail. One they hold the prey, the second is needed to inject poison. When caught, the stingray always actively swings its tail, defending itself, so when catching these giants, you need to be extremely careful.

5. Common catfish | 5 meters

It is one of the largest freshwater fish and ranks fifth in our ranking. The body length of the fish can reach 5 meters, and weight - half a ton. It is an active river predator leading a nocturnal lifestyle. Hunts for fish, mollusks, crustaceans. Especially large individuals can attack birds and small animals. Many stories are connected with catfish about the attack of these predators on people, but there is no documentary evidence of this. Although a large catfish is able to drag a person entangled in gear underwater.

4. Blue marlin | 5 meters

- one of the most beautiful and largest marine fish in the world. Reaches an impressive size - 5 meters in length. At the same time, about 20% of the length of the fish falls on its spear. Females are much larger than males. Habitat - Atlantic Ocean. Marlin is a favorite object of sport fishing. Catching him is considered a great success. In his famous story The Old Man and the Sea, Hemingway described the three-day struggle between an old fisherman and a blue marlin. Fourth place in our ranking.

3. Belt-fish or oar king | 11 meters

- one of the most unusual and longest fish in the world. It lives at depth in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans. It is often mistaken for a sea snake. This is not surprising - with a body thickness of only 5 centimeters, the length of the fish can reach five and a half meters. According to some reports, individuals were found about 17 meters in length. The largest documented specimen was 11 meters long. The second name is the oar king, the fish belt was not accidental. She is often seen swimming in schools of herring, and the strongly elongated rays of the dorsal fin form a kind of “crown” on her head.

2. Great white shark | 6 meters

The largest and most dangerous is a. The average length of an individual is about 4.6 meters, but there are specimens exceeding 6 meters in length. The weight of such monsters can be more than two tons. There is a predator in all oceans and is a great danger to humans. The white shark prefers coastal waters and often attacks swimmers and divers. Cases of attacks on boats have been recorded. The predator hunts for large fish, dolphins, pinnipeds, sea turtles, birds. The white shark is an endangered species with a population of 3,500 individuals.

1. Whale shark | 10 meters

The undisputed leader of our ranking of the largest fish in the world is the whale. The average body length is 10 meters, but there are individuals longer than 12 meters. Scientists do not exclude the existence of larger specimens of the whale shark, reaching 18-20 meters in length. Despite its monstrous size, this marine predator does not pose a direct danger to humans, since it feeds on plankton. The whale shark is so calm that it allows divers to touch it and even climb on its back.