Gulper catfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gulper catfish |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Asterophysus
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| Species: |
batrachus
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The gulper catfish (or ogre catfish) is a very special type of catfish. Its scientific name is Asterophysus batrachus. This fish lives in the slow-moving rivers of Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela. You can find it in places like the Rio Negro and Orinoco river basins. It likes waters with lots of hidden spots, like submerged trees or rocks.
This catfish can grow up to about 28.5 centimeters (11 inches) long. It has a short, thick body and is usually dark with a lighter belly. People in its home countries don't often eat it because they think it looks a bit strange. However, some people enjoy keeping these interesting fish in their home aquariums.
How the Gulper Catfish Eats
The gulper catfish is a true meat-eater. It loves to eat other fish. What's amazing is that it can swallow prey that is even bigger than itself! It catches its food by biting the head of another fish. The gulper catfish has tiny teeth that point backward. These teeth make it hard for its prey to escape once caught.
Swallowing Big Meals
When the gulper catfish catches a fish, the prey's struggles actually help push it further into the catfish's mouth. The prey often ends up folded inside the catfish's stomach. This means both its head and tail point towards the catfish's head. The gulper catfish's stomach can stretch a lot. After a big meal, the catfish might look very full and even struggle to swim properly. It can also swallow a lot of water. Later, it might spit out this water along with any leftover bits from its last meal.
Hunting Tricks
Other fish don't seem to realize the gulper catfish is dangerous. This might be because fish usually don't see other fish of similar size as a big threat. Also, the gulper catfish moves slowly and quietly when it hunts. One common way it attacks is by quickly turning sideways and biting the head of its target. If it misses the first time, it won't chase the prey. Surprisingly, the prey often still doesn't realize the danger. This means the gulper catfish can try the same trick again and often succeed.
Another hunting method was seen in the Atabapo River. Here, gulper catfish hide in cracks between rocks. They dart out quickly to catch fish swimming by, like angelfish. In aquariums, these catfish eat both day and night. But in the wild, scientists think they hunt mostly at night or during twilight hours. This gives them an advantage when hunting sleeping fish along riverbanks.
Images for kids
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A gulper catfish in an aquarium.
See also
