[youtube]7Tkl4ziRNVU[/youtube] Jeremy Wade catches a Goliath Tigerfish on Animal Planet[xtypo_dropcap]T[/xtypo_dropcap]he Goliath Tigerfish, a carnivorous fish species weighing up to 154 pounds and reaching 5 feet in length, was recently featured on Animal Planet’s new show “River Monsters.” Widely known as a ferocious-looking creature with sharp teeth, the Goliath Tigerfish is only one of a large variety of fish native to the Congo River, 80% of which are found nowhere else in the world.
The “monster fish” is able to swim in turbulent waters and can easily capture smaller fish that are not able to swim against the current, says Animal Planet. It can also sense the low-frequency vibrations that its prey emits.
The Congo River is home to 686 species of fish. In an article highlighting the wonders of the Congo, the World Wildlife Fund documented the exotic fishes of its waters. The elephant fish have an electric organ in their tail that they use to navigate and communicate with others of its kind. They also have long snouts to sift through the sediment at the river bottom for food, National Geographic reported.
Lungfishes are able to breathe air, unlike most fish. They can also survive with low supplies of oxygen or none at all. During dry periods, they burrow into mud holes and envelope themselves in mucous. Bichirs resemble ancient fish, “with lobed fins and a hard coating on their scales.”
Fish of the Congo River are able to adapt to their surroundings with incredible efficiency. Some hide from predators in the water hyacinths that grow on the riverbanks, while others live in fallen trees that are partially submerged in the water.
However, some fishermen over-fish or use methods detrimental to the fish, such as the use of herbicides to eliminate the greenery growing by the river, explosives, and poisons. This has led to a decline of several fish species, threatening the vibrant diversity of the river, according to studies conducted by the Congo River Environment and Development Project (CREDP).
The Goliath Tigerfish is not threatened at the time of writing, but with the exposure on Animal Planet, is attracting a lot more attention to the region.
The “monster fish” is able to swim in turbulent waters and can easily capture smaller fish that are not able to swim against the current, says Animal Planet. It can also sense the low-frequency vibrations that its prey emits.
The Congo River is home to 686 species of fish. In an article highlighting the wonders of the Congo, the World Wildlife Fund documented the exotic fishes of its waters. The elephant fish have an electric organ in their tail that they use to navigate and communicate with others of its kind. They also have long snouts to sift through the sediment at the river bottom for food, National Geographic reported.
Lungfishes are able to breathe air, unlike most fish. They can also survive with low supplies of oxygen or none at all. During dry periods, they burrow into mud holes and envelope themselves in mucous. Bichirs resemble ancient fish, “with lobed fins and a hard coating on their scales.”
Fish of the Congo River are able to adapt to their surroundings with incredible efficiency. Some hide from predators in the water hyacinths that grow on the riverbanks, while others live in fallen trees that are partially submerged in the water.
However, some fishermen over-fish or use methods detrimental to the fish, such as the use of herbicides to eliminate the greenery growing by the river, explosives, and poisons. This has led to a decline of several fish species, threatening the vibrant diversity of the river, according to studies conducted by the Congo River Environment and Development Project (CREDP).
The Goliath Tigerfish is not threatened at the time of writing, but with the exposure on Animal Planet, is attracting a lot more attention to the region.
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