Lake Biwa giant catfish
(Silurus biwaensis)
Image source: Jo's Animal Database
Classification
Species:
Silurus biwaensis
Genus:
Silurus - Eurasian catfishes
Family: Siluridae - Eurasian catfishes
Order: Siluriformes - Catfishes
Superclass: Osteichthyes - Bony fishes
General data
Scientific names:
Lake Biwa giant catfish
Habitat:
Freshwater
Climate:
Temperate
Native:
Asia
The giant Lake Biwa catfish is a large predatory catfish species endemic to Lake Biwa in Japan. It is very similar to wels catfish, which it is closely related to. It has an elongated cylindrical body and can reach up to 1.18 m (3 ft 10 in) in length and weigh as much as 17 kg (37 lb). The top of the body is dark grey to black in colour while the underside is a pale, whitish colour.