11 species of giant fish are in danger of extinction

Giant vampire or coral fish in the Mekong River are among the world's largest fish that are threatened mainly by dams and overfishing.

1. Vampire fish

Zeb Hogan is holding the vampire fish in his hand at the area of ​​the Corona Falls source, Guyana.(Photos: NG)

Biologist Zeb Hogan working for National Geographic channel spent many years researching the world's largest fish species, including vampire fish in the Amazon basin . Vampires famous for sharp fangs can easily hunt smaller fish and hunt fish that eat piranhas.

"More than 70% of the world's giant freshwater fishes (including giant stingrays) are in danger of extinction. Our current urgent problem is to research and save them against threats. building dams and overfishing, " said Hogan.

2. Fresh water stingrays

Photo: Live Science

Giant freshwater stingrays can be found in river systems in Thailand, Borneo, New Guinea and northern Australia with adults that can be longer than 5 m and weighing 600 kg but are now threatened. threatened by dams, fishing and water pollution.

3. Giant Mekong catfish

Giant Mekong catfish can reach about three meters long and weighs 295 kg.(Photo: Live Science)

"Large dams have a catastrophic impact on river life. Typically, the giant catfish of the Mekong River, which is about the size of a grizzly bear, is threatened by a series of dams built downstream, dams will block migration to their spawning sites, leading to a high risk of extinction , "added Hogan, who has been a senior researcher for this fish for 20 years. .

4. Huge gold catfish

Photos: NG

The giant gold catfish found in the Paraná River in Argentina can grow to 1.4 m long and weigh 50 kg. According to fishbase.org, in the tributaries of the Amazon River, this fish lives on the bottom surface, mainly hunting small fish at night.

5. Giant stingray Potamotrygon motoro

Giant Potamotrygon motoro stingray in Paraná river in Argentina can grow up to a meter in length and weigh 15 kg.(Photos: NG)

According to arkive.org, this stingray is widely distributed, found in rivers in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela and the Amazon tributaries. Hydroelectric dams and environmental pollution are the main threat to this species.

6. Giant catfish Goonch

Giant catfish Goonch at Uttarakhand river, India can be up to two meters long and weigh 90 kg.(Photos: NG)

This large fish is considered to be the culprit for the attacks on swimmers in the Kali River in India around 1998-2007.

7. Giant red tail catfish

Red-tailed giant catfish at Rewa River, Guyana can reach a weight of up to 45 kg.(Photos: NG)

This fish is also found in rivers in Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil. This is the favorite fish of fishing sport, with a world record recorded by Brazilian fisherman Gilberto Fernandes. He caught fish weighing up to 56 kg. The immature red-tail catfish are hunted aggressively to serve aquarium fish.

8. Huge white sturgeon

Photo: Live Science

Giant white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) - one of the largest freshwater fish species in North America, can grow 4.5 meters long and reach a weight of 450 kg, found mainly in Fraser (Canada) and river Sacramento, California (USA). Dam construction is a major threat to this species.

9. Paddlefish fish

Paddlefish fish (with relatives of sturgeon) were found at the Missouri, Montana state (USA) with a length of up to 1.8 m and weighing 90 kg.(Photo: Live Science)

According to the Wiki, this population of fishes is severely reduced due to the damaging effects of blocking the migratory pathway of eggs and also because of the "flow control" of people serving agriculture that has destroyed the habitat of it.

10. Giant coral fish

Giant barbfish found on the Mekong line can grow up to three meters in length and weighs 270 kg.

In Vietnam, fish are often caught by fishermen nets and then sold to traders. This is considered the main cause of this rare and endangered species.

11. Wallago giant catfish

Photo: Live Science

Wallago giant catfish is found in rivers from Pakistan to Vietnam. This is a carnivorous fish that can grow up to two meters in length. In India, this species is in danger of extinction due to excessive pollution and catch.