The largest freshwater fish

The largest freshwater fish in the world is the Mekong giant catfish.

Giant toothless perches on the bottom of rivers, especially rocks and gravel, and sometimes in underwater caves. It mainly feeds on aquatic plants and algae and is omnivorous. Mekong River originates from Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand.

The giant catfish in Mekong River can grow to about 3 meters, and now it is extremely endangered. Overfishing, dam construction and habitat destruction are all threatening the survival of giant catfish in Mekong River. Fishermen once caught a giant catfish weighing 293 kilograms and held the record for the largest freshwater fish in the world.

The Red List of World Nature Reserves ranks extremely endangered and belongs to endangered animals:

Overfishing, water pollution, the construction of artificial dams and the destruction of wild habitats have seriously threatened their survival. Large fish with migratory behavior are most vulnerable to environmental factors, and giant catfish in Mekong River belongs to this category.

International animal protection organizations are trying to save species, but people know little about these fish because they usually live in dark deep water in remote areas. On the other hand, it is almost impossible to implement fishing restrictions in many remote villages along the Mekong River, so the living conditions of giant catfish in the Mekong River will further deteriorate.