Page 186 - Atlas Of The World's Strangest Animals

186 ATLAS OF THE WORLD’S STRANGEST ANIMALS

Found in fresh and brackish water, warm lakes and deep, 5m (16.4ft) long being caught in the Danube and Dniepr
fast-flowing rivers, the wels catfish is one of Europe’s most river systems.As recently as 2008, attacks in Lake
recognizable fish species. Schlachtensee, near Berlin in Germany, were attributed to
Unlike most fish, wels catfish don’t have scales. Instead one such colossus.There are even reports, dating back to
their green-brown bodies are long and slimy, with an the 1400s, of wels catfish that were man-eaters.These tales
elongated anal fin that stretches almost to the tail.The are difficult to substantiate and are probably no more than
head is large, broad and flattened with a pair of small, dark tall tales or misidentifications.Yet, there’s no doubt that
eyes set to either side. Inside the wide mouth are hundreds these fish are aggressive and active predators.
of tiny teeth.These are used to hold prey before it is The young fry live on invertebrates.As they grow
passed on to two sets of crushing pads located at the back bigger, they become more ambitious and, while other fish
of the fishes’ throat. are their main prey, they’ll tackle amphibians, small aquatic
The size of these fish varies from location to location, mammals and waterfowl. In his TV series Animal World, the
but they have long been the subject of myth and legend. British biologist Jeremy Wade set out to discover if they
Reports dating from the 1850s speak of giant catfish up to would tackle a full-grown man.Well, he released one fish,

Although solitary by nature, catfish abandon their lonely lives Once paired up, the male digs a nest in the riverbed, using his
in the spring when they begin to search for a mate. mouth and belly to excavate the wet sand.

Great clouds of eggs settle in the nest and are fertilized by the The father aggressively guards his nest, attacking a passing
male. Now it’s just a matter of time. swan in his zeal to protect the new-born fry.

(c) 2011 Marshall Cavendish. All Rights Reserved.