River fish: predatory and peaceful fish, names and photos of river fish. List of river fish What is the name of spotted river fish?

Photos of the largest river fish often show catfish. And this is most likely connected with the same question: do real cannibal catfish exist in reality? These huge fish are too mysterious and there are so many fables about them. But there is still evidence of catfish attacks on people in our time, given that giant individuals are still found. According to US zoology specialist David Wheeler, there are catfish weighing half a ton and measuring more than six meters. Such facts are given in his book about catfish of unprecedented sizes that still live in large bodies of water.

And in our time, catfish attacks on animals occur, the victims of which are usually pets and young cows, sheep, goats, as well as adults. People also became targets of attacks by underwater predators, and most often these were children. In the middle of the summer of 1982, researchers and rangers of the Khopyorsky Nature Reserve witnessed a catfish attack on a young deer and its death when a huge fish pulled it under water. Bears crossing the river also became victims of catfish. This is still talked about in the Siberian region.

So, the largest freshwater fish is the catfish? Among other things, and a cannibal? Quite possible. Here are some more facts, moreover, from very recent history. This happened in Voronezh region at the end of the summer season, in the 90s. Near the village of Kulakovo, a boy and a woman became victims of an attack by a huge killer catfish. They swam in the evening in hunting areas of man-eating catfish.

Similar cases of disappearances of people in the evening were recorded in China at a large reservoir. People went swimming and did not return from the water. The mystery of their disappearances was solved when a giant catfish measuring three meters in size was caught with human remains in its stomach. One head of this catfish was a meter in size.

It is difficult to judge whether this is true or not, but according to some sources, a five-meter catfish was found on the side of the vessel in a tugboat that sank on the river, which had made a hole in the hull. In the stomach of the monster, the remains of three Polish tourists were found, who, after the disaster with the tugboat, transferred to a small rescue vessel, but never made it to the shore. It was on the Dnieper.

Beluga

The list that includes the largest freshwater fish or river monsters should include the beluga. It would, of course, be in first place in size among the fish of Russia. But this huge fish is not a permanent and typical river inhabitant, since it is a migratory fish species and enters rivers only to spawn. Meanwhile, in the local history museum of the Republic of Mari El, among the exhibits there is a beluga weighing a ton, once caught in the Volga. But this is not the limit of the weight and size of the beluga. According to unspecified and unofficial data, not so long ago individuals weighing up to 2 tons and up to 7-8 meters in length were encountered. Confirmed data indicate the capture of the largest specimen of this fish, weighing one and a half tons and 4.2 meters long. Some of the most large belugas They are real long-livers, as their age can be 100 years.

The largest river fish in Russia, although they do not constantly live in rivers, nevertheless spend a very large part of their lives there. This is due to the characteristics of reproduction. Being the inhabitants of the Caspian, Black, Azov and, according to some information, Adriatic seas, belugas come to spawn mostly in the Volga, as well as in the rivers: Ural, Terek and Kura. But if earlier these powerful and ancient fossil fish rose quite high along the Volga, to the middle reaches and higher, then with the emergence of the Volga cascade of dams and hydroelectric stations, the rise of the beluga stopped, at least to the previous levels.

The fish passages didn't help either. In addition, some dams either did not have them at all or did not operate in accordance with full force. For example, at the Cheboksary hydroelectric power station in the first years, instead of fish passage structures, only an 8 cm grid was installed, on which passing fish were cut and killed. big fish, falling to the bottom under the release of water from the dam.

The largest river fish in the world hardly reached the size of the Russian beluga, at least those individuals that entered our rivers in the 18th and 19th centuries. Meanwhile, in our time these valuable sturgeon fish who once supplied a lot of delicious meat and delicacies black caviar, are on the verge of extinction, despite the bans. And in the good old days, even a simple peasant could afford to taste the delicious beluga meat and the same delicious black caviar, and in large quantities. It happened one fine day in the year one thousand eight hundred and ninety-one, when strong wind from the shore he unexpectedly and quickly drove water from the Gulf of the Azov Sea near Taganrog. In a shallow puddle in the bay, this lucky guy found a beluga weighing 20 pounds (327 kg). There was almost 50 kilograms of black caviar in it. This is where you could eat to your heart's content real fish and black caviar, even a tablespoon, simply!..

Siberian taimen

The largest freshwater fish in Russia are also found in Siberian rivers. And the largest and most beautiful predator icy waters is taimen. This is the most ancient fish of all salmonids, since taimen lived about 18 million years ago. Most species and subspecies of taimen, including lenok and char, are predominantly freshwater, with the exception of the Sakhalin taimen, which at certain times adheres to river mouths and the desalinated part of the sea.

In our country, taimen live in the rivers of Siberia, as well as in the rivers of the Amur basin. These powerful and incredibly beautiful fish are the object of sport fishing according to the “catch and release” principle. This strict principle is a vital necessity, since the Siberian taimen is already an endangered fish species.

Among Russian fish, taimen stand out for their size and weight. The largest specimens recently reached a weight of a hundredweight and a length of two meters and a hook. Since 1993, the record has been held for the largest taimen caught on sports gear and released back into the waters of the river. The weight of this trophy fish was 41.95 kg. However, no, no, and information will get through, they say, they caught a taimen weighing 50 kg, or even 80 kilograms, somewhere in a mountain river. In a word, taimen is the largest freshwater fish in our country beyond the Ural ridge.

Taimen are true predators, capable of swallowing large fish. Externally, this large fish is live torpedo, for which strong currents and rapids of mountain rivers are not an obstacle. The usual coloring of taimen consists of brown tones on the back and silver on the sides with dark spots. IN mating season these fish become even more beautiful. They are distinguished and bright by their red, almost orange ventral fins, as well as their juicy red anal and caudal fins with a copper tint.

Element of taimen - icy mountain rivers and the same lakes. Hunting places are holes immediately beyond the rapids, where tired small fish roll down and become prey for a predator. Taimen also stay in small groups and in places with an uneven bottom on stretches and even in river bays. If only there was depth in such a bay.

Pike

The category of the largest freshwater fish also includes pike. According to Leonid Pavlovich Sabaneev, pike weighing 48-64 kg were found not so long ago in northern and Siberian rivers. And predators weighing 100 pounds and weighing 20 kg are not particularly rare in Russian waters, especially in the expanses of the Volga reservoirs. The pike caught during the reign of the German Emperor Barbarossa, which was 5.7 meters long and weighed 140 kg, is considered legendary. She was ringed and launched into the lake. The pike lived for more than 200 years in this lake and, when caught, was whitish in color, as if faded with age. The skeleton and ring of this pike are still kept in one of the museums in Germany. True, there are doubts about the authenticity of these artifacts, since the maximum age of pike is estimated by leading ichthyologists at 33 years.

Even in forest peat lakes there were giant pikes. The 30-kilogram pikes of Lake Luzhier were written about in the pre-war newspapers of the Mari Volga region. Large in area, but only 2-3 meters deep, this peat interdune lake still remains a haven for large pike. The lake's tenants, who set themselves the goal of completely catching predators and introducing cultivated fish species, failed to cope with this task. The lake seemed to have a second bottom where predators were hiding. And in the process of seine fishing, fishermen saw giant fish exiting and jumping through the net, and also observed live logs in shallow areas. Log pikes came out onto the shallows to escape the net. And the fishermen simply did not dare to catch them, despite the reach of the prey. A similar giant pike, which can be judged not only by descriptions and stories, was caught in Lake Ilmen. She weighed 34 kilograms. And the reliability of the capture large predator is confirmed by a black and white photograph that can be safely attributed to the series - a photo of the largest river fish.

Predators weighing 12-16 kg even now often become prey for winter pike fishermen.

Carp and carp

According to the information presented in the books of L.P. Sabaneeva, carp and its cultivated variety carp were in ancient times truly gigantic size and weight. The record holder of that time can be called a carp weighing more than three pounds, or more precisely, 55.6 kg. This fish was caught with hooks, gear that is now considered poaching. There were rumors of a 68.5 kg carp caught in a net. Nowadays, these fish also come in large sizes and heavy weight. At least, carp weighing 20-30 kg are considered not very rare prey, especially in the lower reaches of the Volga, and are called trophy fish that every angler dreams of catching.

These powerful and large fish, encased in strong silver-golden scales, are also included in the category - the largest freshwater fish, only among the relatively peaceful ones underwater inhabitants. Why - conditionally? Any, even the most herbivorous and peaceful-looking fish, having reached a certain age and size, becomes to some extent a predator and is not averse to swallowing fry.

In addition to the Volga delta, large carp are found in paid reservoirs, where, with proper feeding and regulated fishing, they quickly reach large sizes and weights, since the peculiarity of these fish is their rapid growth.

The largest river fish in the world

The largest freshwater fish or river monsters are also widely represented in the rivers of other continents. Moreover, some of them are related to our Russian predators, for example, the American musky pike. It is also called the giant pike.

musky pike

The Muskinong is almost no different in appearance from our pike, but in size this predator is comparable to our pikes of previous centuries and long ago. External differences can only be found by a specialist or a person who knows these differences in advance. Firstly, the musky has no scales on the lower part of the gill covers and the edges of the caudal fin are sharper than those of our common pike. The muskie is distinguished by the sensory points that the lower jaw of the fish has. This pike has more of them than the Russian predator, most often over seven. Pike in our waters have no more than six. The color and stripes that turn into spots often coincide, especially if the conditions, that is, when the color of the water and soil also coincide in the American predator with the living conditions of our pikes.

Maskinongs can be up to 1.8 meters long and sometimes weigh 30-32 kg. But most often they are caught by fishermen using sports gear, so to speak, in the middle weight categories- length 2.5 m and weight 16 kg.

Like our pikes, muskies prefer river bays with weak currents or standing water. The hunting objects of these species are also similar. predatory fish. Like the pikes of our rivers and lakes, muskellunges hunt fish and all living things that fit into their mouths: chicks, birds, frogs, crayfish, snakes, mice, muskrats.

The armored pike is also a relative of the pikes mentioned above, but rather a distant relative. It is also a serious fish that falls under the definition of being the largest freshwater fish.

Bull shark

But this is a real monster, which cannot be called a good fish, because, like all sharks, this predator is a real aggressor. The bull shark is found both in the vast expanses of the ocean and in the coastal zone. But this same shark can also be found in the most ordinary freshwater reservoir: river or even in a stream, as long as the depth of this stream allows this powerful fish, which often reaches a size of more than 2.5 meters and a weight of 312 kilograms, to be accommodated in it. The insidious feature of such a shark is that it often stays in the shallow coastal waters of beaches and can be dangerous, as it is an aggressive and ruthless predator. This shark easily falls into the category of one of the largest fish in the world and can often be found in a series of photos of the largest river fish.

White sturgeon

White sturgeon is also giant fish and among the sturgeon family North America- this is its largest representative. Moreover, this fish can be called the largest among freshwater fish of this continent. The largest individuals of this species reach a length of about 4 meters and these sturgeons weigh almost half a ton. These fish also differ in their life expectancy, which is 100 years or even more. Therefore, old fish, one can say without exaggeration, have seen a lot in their lifetime.

Nile perch

This is another relative of our domestic fish, or rather, perch, familiar to all “sailors”. Only the size of the overseas brother is impressive and awe-inspiring. As the name suggests, this “perch,” reaching a length of 1.8 meters and a weight of more than 180 kg, lives in the always muddy Nile River, and also in the rivers of Niger, Congo, and Senegal. Like our perches, the Nile perch has yellow eyes with black pupils. But the coloring of this perch is somewhat different, without stripes, instead of which the sides shine with silver with some bluish tints, which makes this seasoned predator very beautiful.

Alligator garfish

The largest river fish in the world are represented by another species that is truly a monster. This is an alligator garfish. Appearance this monster is almost a copy of the alligator crocodile, at least that’s what the fish’s head looks like. But, despite such a picturesque and fiercely aggressive appearance, these fish have never attacked people before, at least no such information has been received. The size of these inhabitants water depths not offended either. Garfish alligators can weigh up to 140 kilograms with a length of 3 meters.

Arapaima gigantea

This is a fish that really deserves to be on the list - the largest freshwater fish. Specimens 3 meters long and weighing more than 68 kilograms are not uncommon in the waters of the Amazon. Confirmed data speak of arapaima weighing up to 200 kg. This is a fast and furious predator that not only manages to catch up and swallow fish, but also jumps to reach birds and small animals sitting in trees.

Arapaima can live in the most impassable swamps, where the water is very poor in oxygen. But this cunning fish has adapted to breathe and atmospheric air, for which it needs to rise to the surface of the reservoir at certain intervals, which are about 20 minutes. The giant arapaima is protected by very dense and strong scales, but this did not save it from extermination by local native tribes, who from time immemorial caught this fish for food. These fish are now being protected and are likely to be farmed.

Goliath Tigerfish

The largest freshwater fish will be horrified by the appearance of another real monster, which will frighten even any predator with the sight of its terrible teeth, since the Goliath tiger fish is a giant piranha. In addition to the fact that it is one of the largest fish and reaches a length of 180 cm and weighs 50 kilograms, this fish is also the most dangerous among all types of predatory fish.

And this danger threatens both a weak person and no less bloodthirsty to a strong crocodile. And the teeth of the goliath fish even bite through metal leashes if the metal chosen for them is not the most durable. Apart from the Congo River, these fish are not found anywhere else.

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If you ask yourself what is the biggest fish in the world, you may not find an exact answer. After all, sometimes they disagree with the information that fishermen have. If we take into account the general statistics, we can confidently identify the main contenders for this position. It would probably be wrong to classify all the inhabitants of the underwater bottom according to one characteristic, so it is also worth deciding what the largest freshwater fish lives in the world.

The largest fish in the ocean

According to official data, the largest fish living in the ocean depths is the whale shark.

Appearance

What does the largest fish in the world look like? The average size of a whale shark is 9.7 meters. The weight of individuals is 9 tons. Larger specimens are also found; in particular, a case of a whale shark weighing 22 tons and measuring 12.6 meters was recorded.

Externally, the whale shark is very different from representatives of this species. The thick skin in placoid scales on the back is dark gray-brown in color, and on the belly it is gray-white. Her back is painted with a pattern of light stripes and spots, which create a unique individual pattern that does not change throughout life, like a person’s fingerprints.

The huge mouth of a whale shark reaches 1.5 meters in width. There are 300-350 small teeth in the mouth.

Habitat

This large fish lives throughout the world's oceans, but its population varies in different areas. Individuals prefer moderately warm and tropical waters. You can find representatives of the species in Florida and California. Lives in Indian Ocean and sails to the coast of Africa. Not found in Japan, south of Brazil and northern Australia, does not swim in the Mediterranean Sea.

Whale sharks move in small groups; individuals rarely stay alone. If the habitat is rich in food, then they can form colonies of hundreds of representatives.

Nutrition

Despite the status of the most big fish in the world, the whale shark is not a hunter of large prey. Her diet consists of:

• krill;
• shrimps;
• small fish;
• jellyfish;
• plankton, etc.

Basically, she eats everything she can suck into her huge mouth.

During feeding, the shark moves very slowly, often positioned almost vertically to the surface of the water. After taking a sip, the fish closes its mouth and lets water through the gill slits. The filtered food enters the stomach, and water exits through the gills. The shark makes about 10-16 gulps per minute. It takes quite a long time for her to get enough – about 7 hours a day.

Reproduction

Whale sharks reach sexual maturity at 30 years of age. Moreover, females become ready to reproduce earlier than males.

This large fish is ovoviviparous. The fry, about half a meter in size, hatch immediately from the shell. The number of babies can reach up to 300 individuals. For the first couple of weeks, they feed on the internal reserves of their body.

The whale shark is long-lived - its average age is about 80 years old.

The ocean is not the only habitat for huge fish. Now we will try to find out what the world's largest fish, living in fresh water. Based on statistical data, this is the beluga.

Appearance

This fish belongs to the sturgeon family and is listed in the Red Book. Beluga is considered an endangered species as it is hunted for its meat and black caviar.

Externally, it differs from other sturgeons with its large mouth. The fish has flattened antennae growing on its face. Her body is thick, cylindrical, with growths on her back, which are called bugs. Like most freshwater fish, the beluga is dark gray on its back, but its belly is much lighter.

The weight of an adult individual reaches 1500 kg or more, with a total length of about 6 meters.

Habitat

Beluga is not only a freshwater fish, as adults also live in sea ​​water. Only there can a large beluga find enough food. Migratory fish go to fresh water bodies of rivers to spawn, where they come from depths of the sea Caspian, Black and Azov seas. She also lives in the Adriatic and Mediterranean seas. Fish from the Caspian Sea most often breed in the Volga, Azov fish return to spawn in the Don River, and Black Sea individuals visit the Dnieper, Danube, and Dniester.

Nutrition

Due to its large size, the beluga consumes a lot of food. It is for this purpose that adults go to sea. There, its diet consists of animal food - beluga - a predator. Most often it feeds on herring, sprat, goby and small fish. In addition to fish, beluga can catch ducklings and seal pups (whites).

Reproduction

Like other long-lived fish, belugas become sexually mature at quite an adult age - at 12-14 years old for males, and at 16-18 years old for females. The fish, ready for reproduction, returns from the sea to the river. Migration occurs upstream. One individual can spawn once every few years. For spawning, beluga chooses a rocky bottom at depth. The eggs glued to stones and pebbles are fertilized by males swimming nearby. If for some reason the female fails to lay eggs, they dissolve inside her.

About 90% of the eggs die; after a week, the rest hatch into fry, which behave like predators from birth. Gradually they go downstream to the sea.

By nature, the beluga is destined to live a long life - up to 100 years or more. But rare individuals survive to this age, since the beluga, listed in the Red Book, is continuously hunted.

So, the answer to the question of what is the largest fish in the world is the whale shark. Beluga is rightfully the first among freshwater fish.

Fish a little more than half a meter long, living in fresh water, look very large, but among freshwater fish there are a variety of species that are so large in length and weight that it is difficult to imagine.

Of course, the inhabitants of the deep sea have a wider variety of shapes and sizes, but some rivers and lakes are home to unique species of the largest freshwater fish in the world.

For lovers fishing You should always be very careful, especially when fishing in unfamiliar waters. It is unknown to what size a catfish or perch could grow in the deep waters of an unvisited lake. So it won’t be long before you yourself become the prey of some two-meter pike. 🙂

10. Carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Carp (carp)- a large omnivorous fish that lives in fresh water bodies with stagnant water and a muddy bottom. The body is covered with large scales and has a golden hue. A very voracious fish, capable of eating almost the whole day. Carp eat young shoots of reeds and other aquatic plants, as well as mollusks, aquatic insects and even the eggs of other fish and frogs. Since the average size of this fish is small, it ranks last among the ten largest freshwater fish in the world. The largest carp was caught in 2015 in Hungary. His weight was 48 kg.

9.

paddlefish is a large freshwater fish that inhabits bodies of water in the eastern United States, particularly the rivers flowing into the Gulf of Mexico. Most common in Mississippi and its associated lakes. On average, adults reach a size of 221 cm and a weight of 90.7 kg. They live long, up to 55 years. These freshwater fish are the only sturgeon species that feed on zooplankton, phytoplankton, as well as the remains (detritus) and secretions of invertebrate animals.

8.

Siberian taimen (Russian salmon)- a species of predatory freshwater fish belonging to the salmon family. These fish inhabit the fast and cold waters of Siberia, Altai and Far East. It is not in vain that it is considered the largest salmon in the world: such a fish can be 1 m in length and weigh 50-60 kg. The taimen is not whimsical in its choice of food; it preys on all types of fish that are smaller in size. It has different colors, but you can recognize it by its olive-green head, reddish-brown tail and 8-10 transverse stripes on the sides. The lifespan of taimen is significantly longer than that of other salmon. Thanks to this, fish can grow to above average sizes.

The largest taimen in the world was caught in the Krasnoyarsk Territory on the Kotui River in 1943. The weight of this fish was 105 kg and the length was 210 cm.

7.

Shelled pike- ray-finned fish of the armored family. Swims in fresh and brackish waters of Central and North America. This is not only one of the largest freshwater fish on the planet, but also one of the most ancient - the ancestors of this species lived on Earth more than 100 million years ago. It got its name for its truly terrifying appearance: its long body is covered with scales as thick as a shell, and its sharp muzzle has powerful jaws with four rows of teeth. Armored freshwater pikes can reach 3 m in length and weigh up to 136 kg. It mainly eats small fish, but can also attack humans.

6. Nile perch (Lates niloticus)

Nile perch- the largest freshwater fish in the world from the genus Perciformes. Found in water bodies of Africa (Nile, Senegal, Congo, etc.). We are used to catching perches “on the palm” and larger, but this species grows up to 2 m in length and weighs up to 200 kg. The average length of the African freshwater perch will be 120-140 cm. The fish has a silver color with a blue tint. It feeds on smaller fish, insects, crayfish, and also does not disdain its relatives.

5.

Brazilian arapaima is a tropical freshwater fish from the Aravan family. Distributed in lakes and rivers South America. The body of this fish has a greenish color in the front, with a smooth transition to red in the tail, and incredibly durable scales. Thanks to its reliable protection, the arapaima coexists with such ferocious predators as piranhas. It mainly feeds on fish, and on occasion birds and small animals. The average length is 2 meters, but there are individuals up to 3 meters and weighing 200 kg.

The Brazilian arapaima has a unique feature - it is able to breathe atmospheric air.

4.

Mekong catfish (shilbo catfish)- ray-finned fish of the pangasian catfish family. Inhabits the rivers of Thailand: Mekong and Tonle Sap. The largest specimen was 2.7 m in length and weighed 293 kg. These freshwater fish eat phytoplankton and algae and also prey on fish and small animals. Due to excessive fishing, there is a possibility of complete extinction of this species. According to some data, over the past 14 years, its population in the world has decreased by 80%. Therefore, the Shilbo catfish is included in the International Red Book.

3.

Common catfish- a large bottom-dwelling fish without scales, living in deep fresh waters of lakes and rivers in Europe, Asia and parts of Russia. This fish is a real giant among aquatic creatures. Therefore, it is included in the same list with the largest freshwater fish in the world. With great depth and sufficient food, it can grow up to 5 m long and weigh up to 400 kg. There is no official confirmation of the second figure, but there are many eyewitness accounts. For such sizes, you need a lot of food. Some sources say that catfish feed exclusively on carrion. In fact, these fish prefer to hunt small fish, crustaceans, waterfowl, aquatic insects, small mammals and even their relatives.

Catfish are very large predatory fish with an aggressive character, living in fresh water, including in places where people bathe. In this regard, they pose a danger to humans, because may cause quite serious injuries. There is official evidence of attacks by two-meter catfish on people.

2.

White sturgeon is the third largest in the sturgeon family. Inhabits the fresh waters of North America and is considered the largest cultural heritage British Columbia. Sturgeon loves to live in quiet waters West Coast, different large size: up to 6 m long and weighing up to 816 kg. The fish is very aggressive, has a characteristic gray color with white spots and diamonds on the sides and back. Sturgeons live for a very long time, longer than humans, up to 100-110 years, and can reproduce only from the age of 14 (males) and 18 (females). The predator eats mollusks, crustaceans, worms and fish.

1. Beluga (Huso huso)

Beluga- a large freshwater fish from the sturgeon family, living in the Caspian, Black and Seas of Azov. This fish grows to enormous sizes: 4-5 meters in length and weighs up to one and a half tons. According to unconfirmed reports, there were individuals 9 m long and weighing up to 2 tons. That is why the beluga is the largest freshwater fish in the world. Feeds different types fish, shellfish, but prefers sprat, gobies, and herring. Beluga is valuable commercial fish, because it contains the most expensive caviar in the world - black. The cost of a kilogram of black caviar in Europe can exceed 7,000 euros. Beluga is listed in the Red Book.

Another large commercial fish also belongs to the beluga genus - kaluga (Huso dauricus). We did not include it in the ranking of the largest freshwater fish in the world to make our TOP 10 more diverse. Lives in the Amur River. Grown-up individuals feed on minnows and other small fish, and later they eat silver carp, carp, salmon, grass carp, and sometimes their relatives. It can grow up to 5-6 meters long, and the maximum recorded weight of the “Queen of Amur” is 600 kg. This giant was caught by a Chinese fisherman in 2012. There is an assumption that previously there were fish weighing up to a ton. Included in the international and Russian Red Book. Kaluga is a freshwater fish, but is able to adapt to life in salty sea water.

Gray bull shark (bluntnose) lives in tropical and subtropical waters of all oceans. Belongs to the family of gray sharks, whose representatives can live in both salt and fresh water and is the largest of them. Among all species of living sharks, it has the greatest bite force - up to 6000 Newton. According to some data, it reaches a length of 3.5-4 m and a weight of up to 400 kg. Females are larger than males, aggressive and merciless. The bull shark hunts in the shallowest freshwater bodies near sandy beaches. Although this is a large fish, we did not include it in the rating because freshwater rivers and lakes are not its main habitat.

• The smallest freshwater fish in the world is dwarf pandaka (Pandaka pygmaea). It has an almost transparent colorless body. Found in the lakes of the Philippine island of Luzon. It grows no more than 1 centimeter and weighs 4-5 mg.
• The largest fish in the world, among the inhabitants of both fresh and salt waters - whale shark (Rhincodon typus).

Interesting facts about the largest freshwater fish in the world.

Fish, or the edible part of fish, is not inferior in protein content to meat. It also contains fats, 86% of which are polyunsaturated omega-3 acids, necessary for brain function, vitamins A, D, E, and microelements. The composition of the product is determined by its type: there is freshwater and sea fish, white fish, red and brown fish are distinguished by color. The taste of different fish is also different.

Scientists are constantly studying the effects of this product on the human body, thanks to which it has been found that fish protects against cardiovascular diseases, and if they already exist, mitigates the symptoms. In people who eat it regularly, good vision, good physical and mental health: scientists who conducted a study in Mauritius proved that children whose diet regularly includes fish are less likely to end up in prison (by 64%, as they feel calmer and happier). Tumors and osteoporosis are rarely found in fish lovers; they remain active and young longer (according to nutritionists, the low life expectancy in the country is precisely because people rarely eat fish).

Pike is a genus of freshwater fish, the only one in the pike family. Pike can reach 1.5 m in length and weigh up to 35 kg (usually up to 1 m and 8 kg). The body is torpedo-shaped, the head is large, the mouth is wide. The color is variable, depending on the environment: depending on the nature and degree of development of the vegetation, it can be gray-greenish, gray-yellowish, gray-brown, the back is darker, the sides have large brown or olive spots that form transverse stripes. Unpaired fins are yellowish-gray, brown with dark spots; paired - orange. Silver pike are found in some lakes. The lifespan of individual individuals can reach up to 30 years.

Ide

Fish of the carp family, has an external resemblance to roach. Ide is a fairly large fish, reaching 70 cm in length and weighing 2-3 kg; although larger individuals are also found. The color is gray-silver, darker on the back than on the belly. The fins have a pink-orange tint. Ide is a freshwater fish, but can also live in semi-fresh water of sea bays. The ide diet consists of plant and animal foods (insects, mollusks, worms). Spawning occurs in the second half of spring.

The diversity of river fish has interested people since ancient times. Our ancestors fed their families by fishing. Nowadays, fishing is most often a hobby or recreation. This fact does not negate the benefits of fish products in the diet of children and adults.

List of river fish in Russia quite big. Let's look at its main representatives.

Zander

A schooling predatory fish with valuable meat, which contains the entire list of amino acids. Distinctive feature– camouflage color in the form of dark vertical stripes on the back. Lives at the bottom of clean rivers, in pits. It feeds on small fish, frogs, and crustaceans. For a fisherman, pike perch is considered a trophy. You can fish with a spinning rod and a float rod using live bait.

Perch

Chub

Lives in cool water of fast rivers. It feeds on larvae, fry, and frogs. Capable of jumping out of the water to catch an insect. It reaches 70-80 cm in length. The body and head are large. - difficult prey, as it is shy and cautious. You can catch them in the spring using dough and May beetle larvae. Summer bait - grasshoppers, dragonflies, flies.

Ide

Outwardly similar to a roach or chub. The scales are silvery and darken with age. Omnivorous. Lives in pools, under a bridge, near a tree lying in the water. Ide gathers in flocks in winter. Tolerates temperature changes well. It is an object of sport fishing.

Asp

Lives in swift waters, under dams and locks. The fish is a predatory fish with an original way of hunting. jumps out of the water and falls on the victim, stunning him. Food is captured by a bony protrusion on lower jaw, grinds with pharyngeal teeth. Reaches a size of 120 cm. The body is wide, laterally compressed, with a powerful back. The scales are light silver in color. A valuable trophy for a fisherman.

Chekhon

A schooling, usually small fish. Lives in clean water. Feeds on insects. The bait is actively biting. Bait can be maggots, silicone bait, grasshoppers. Taste qualities are valued. Before cooking, remove the gills.

Podust

Lives in rivers with fast currents. It feeds on bottom algae and larvae. May eat eggs. Prefers cool water. Fishing is good in summer.

Bleak

A schooling fish that lives in surface waters. The omnivorous bleak is often caught in the bait in summer and late winter. Distributed everywhere.

Bystryanka

Outwardly it looks like bleak. A distinctive feature is a dotted stripe on the sides of the body. The size of the bystryanka is 10-12 cm. It feeds on algae and zooplankton. Inhabits rivers with fast currents.

Gudgeon

This small fish is found everywhere. Selects places with a sandy bottom. The gudgeon has a cylindrical body with large scales without mucus. Active during the day, goes to the bottom at night. It feeds on small invertebrates, insects, and larvae. In spring they eat the eggs of other fish. They are valuable as bait for catching large predatory fish. It bites well on small worms.

White amur

Herbivorous large fish, reaches 1.2 m. Cupid scales are large, with a black rim. Loves warm water. Fishing lasts from May to October. Fishing takes place in the coastal area overgrown with reeds. Bait can be semolina, dough, peas, potatoes. is a commercial fish, its meat is white, dense, fatty.

Silver carp

A large fish that lives in rivers with moderate currents. It lives in warm water and goes into hibernation with the onset of cold weather. feeds on zooplankton. Schooling fish, weight reaches 20 kg. Caught on dough and vegetable baits.

Som

A solitary predatory fish. It is distinguished by the absence of scales and the presence of mustaches. lives in the depths, inhabits underwater pits. It feeds on mollusks, frogs, and fish. May eat dead fish. He also eats plant foods. Weighs up to 300 kg. Catfish are active at night, after rain and during fog. It is at this time that fishermen hunt him. They catch it on a boat, using a bunch of worms, mollusks, locusts, frogs, and live bait.

Acne

The river eel lives in places with a gentle current and a clay bottom. Predator, similar to a snake. It feeds on crayfish and worms. Crawls into another body of water on wet grass. It grows up to 47 cm. It lives in the European part of Russia and goes to the Sargasso Sea to spawn. After spawning the fish dies. Eels are caught with float and bottom fishing rods using live bait. The bait is thrown in the evening and checked in the morning. The meat is nutritious, smoked eel is considered a delicacy.

Burbot

Industrial bottom fish, lives under snags. It feeds on mollusks, small fish, and frogs. Grows up to 1 m. Spawning and active fishing occur in winter. They fish with float rods. Bait – pieces of fish, worms, bird giblets.

Loach

A small fish with a thin elongated body and a yellow back. Length up to 30 cm. Lives in quiet areas of the river. IN dangerous situation buries itself in the mud. During drought, it looks for another body of water, crawls across land, and at this time it is caught in puddles. While being caught, the loach squeaks. It feeds on larvae and eggs of other fish. Moreover, a school of loaches can cause significant harm to the population of carp, crucian carp or tench. Due to its repulsive appearance, it is rarely eaten, although its meat is tender, fatty and tench-like.

Char

A member of the salmon family. The back is brown, the body has small spots. There are no scales. The meat does not shrink in volume during heat treatment and contains Omega-3 fatty acid. It feeds on larvae and fish eggs. You can catch it with bloodworms.

Lamprey

Found in the Kuban and Don basins. Lives in clean running water, lives on a sandy bottom. The larval period of the lamprey lasts 5-6 years. The larvae feed on plankton and small invertebrates and grow to 17-23 cm. Adult lampreys do not feed. The adult state lasts about a year, then the lamprey spawns and dies. The fish is listed in the Red Book.

Snakehead

A predatory river inhabitant weighing up to 30 kg. Outwardly similar to a snake, it fiercely guards its territory. Defeats an enemy of any size. In a reservoir it destroys fish and looks for another one rich in food. While searching for another body of water, it is able to breathe air for up to 5 days. To fish, you need a boat without a motor and a strong fishing rod. The bait is a fish from the same reservoir. Snakehead meat is tasty and suitable for cooking

Sterlet

Valuable fish Lives at depth in fast rivers. Feeds on larvae small crustaceans, shellfish, small fish. The fish is dark gray-brown in color. Characteristic– narrow long nose. Instead of scales, there are five rows of bone growths on the body. The sterlet is classified as an endangered species. The regions have approved rules for catching it. Fishing without a license is prohibited.

Brook trout

Lives in fast cold waters, enriched with oxygen. The body is thin, elongated. The scales are small and dense. Coloring from brown to yellow. The head is black with golden gill covers. The body is covered with spots. The meat is white or pinkish. It feeds on crustaceans, tadpoles, and larvae. Eats caviar, even its own relatives. They catch it by wading or from a boat.

European grayling

An agile fish with a remarkable appearance. On dorsal fin grayling bright yellow spots. Lives in northern Russia in fast waters. You can catch it with any bait. Fishing is permitted only with a license. Sport fishing object. Grayling meat is prized, it is soft and tasty.

The list of Russian fish can be continued. River fish have common features– this is an elongated body, which is an element of adaptation to life in water of a certain density. Their appearance and habits are varied and depend on the habitat, type of food and other factors.