Giant devil catfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Giant devil catfish |
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The Bagarius yarrelli, often called the giant devil catfish or goonch, is a very large type of catfish. It lives in rivers across the Indian subcontinent. This amazing fish can grow up to 2 m (6.6 ft) (about 6.5 feet) long! Some people think it might be the same species as B. bagarius.
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What's in a Name?
This fish has many different names depending on where you are in the Indian subcontinent.
- In Urdu, Hindi, and Punjabi, it's known as the goonch.
- In Bengali and Bihari, people call it baghar or baghair. These names are actually where the scientific name Bagarius comes from!
- It's called gauns in Rajasthani.
- In Assamese, you might hear it called gorua or baghmas.
- And in Chhattisgarhi, its name is bodh.
The scientific name, Bagarius yarrelli, honors an English scientist named William Yarrell.
About Its Family Tree
Scientists sometimes get confused about the Bagarius yarrelli and another fish called B. bagarius. Some reports say B. bagarius can grow as big as the goonch. However, others believe B. bagarius is a much smaller fish, only growing to about 20 cm (7.9 in) (about 8 inches).
A study in 2021 suggested that B. yarrelli might actually be the same species as B. bagarius. This means they might eventually be grouped together under one name.
Where It Lives
The giant devil catfish lives in large rivers in South Asia. You can find it in big river systems like the Indus and Ganges basins. It prefers deeper parts of the river where the water flows faster, but it never lives in small streams.
Scientists used to think there were other groups of these fish in Southeast Asia. One group was thought to be in the Mekong and Chao Phraya basins. Another was believed to be from the Xe Bang Fai in Laos down to Indonesia. But the 2021 study found that these were actually different species. The Mekong group is now called B. vegrandis, and the other is B. lica.
Why It's in Danger
Even though there are still many goonch fish, they are considered vulnerable. This means their numbers are decreasing. The main reason is too much overfishing. People are catching too many of them, and it's not sustainable.
Also, big projects like hydroelectric dams can harm the fish's home. Dams on rivers like the Indravati River can change the water flow and affect where the goonch lives.
Cultural Importance
The goonch has been important to people for a long time.
- In the Mughal Empire, the highest award was called the Order of the Fish. It was named after this very fish!
- In Chhattisgarh, India, some tribal groups like the Murias and Gonds worship this fish. They often call it the "shark of the Bastar". There have even been talks about making it the official state fish of Chhattisgarh.
Related Pages
- Bagarius bagarius, another type of catfish sometimes called the giant devil catfish.
See also
- Kali River goonch attacks
Images for kids
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An illustration of the Bagarius yarrelli from Sykes's work.
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A large Bagarius yarrelli (goonch) caught in India.
