Where is the largest catfish?
Som, due to its prevalence and largedimensions, is a coveted object of catch for many anglers. Usual soms are considered with a weight of up to fifty kilograms. But large specimens already can not be lifted to one person - their mass is calculated by centners, and in length some representatives of this fish species can reach three meters. There are quite a few cases of catching catfish of extraordinary size, however, fishermen do not rush, usually,
Officially the Guinness record holder isa Thai inhabitant of the Mekong River. The mass of the giant was 292 kilograms. Since the catch was recorded in the presence of witnesses, it is this freshwater fish that is the largest catfish in the world. Another interesting fact is that almost ten years have passed since the capture of the giant, and this record has not yet been overcome.
Ichthyologists claim that giant soms are not thatit's a remarkable phenomenon, it's all about the purity of water and abundant food. By the way, catfish are predators. The main diet - crawfish, fish, frogs, leeches, does not disdain carrion. Giants prefer ducks and other birds, do not disdain squirrels and any short-lived small animal.
But, according to historical sources,modern catfish are small in comparison with their predecessors. For example, in the German Oder in the early nineteenth century, a catfish weighing from 400 to 450 kilograms was caught! This is to the fact that the modern largest
Native expanses are also famous for their giants. The largest catfish in Russia was caught in the nineteenth century. Its weight was 347 kilograms at a length of four and a half meters! At present, there are no recorded cases of catching huge Russian catfish, alas. And it's not that the fish was transferred - on the Volga, for example, soma of two meters long - the most common phenomenon. Most likely, the whole point is that attesting the catch is a rather troublesome business, and fishermen do not consider it necessary to waste time on such trifles. Or maybe just modesty hinders. Anyway, but the record holder of the Russian scale is not officially available at the moment.
In addition to gigantic sizes, catfish can have an unusual color. For example, in the British river Ebro there are soma-albinos. The largest catfish with a lack of melanin was caught by Chris Grimmer.
Presumably, the largest catfish isthe inhabitant of the Dutch lake in the recreation park "Centerparcs". The giant up to three meters long is a local landmark and bears the name of Big Mommy. By the way, this lady has a good appetite, because she daily snacks with two or three waterfowl in addition to the usual food.
Despite the fact that the catfish can not sufficeextraction by teeth due to their fineness, bites him abruptly. There are also known cases of Som attack on people. All this makes the reservoirs inhabited by these unusual creatures unsafe for bathing.
