Bagarius yarrelli


Bagarius yarrelli, also known as the giant devil catfish or goonch, is a very large species of catfish in the genus Bagarius found in rivers in the Indian Subcontinent. It is possibly also found in Southeast Asia, but this may involve a separate species.

Distribution and habitat

It is found in large rivers, including rivers with fast current, but never in small streams. It is found in the Indian Subcontinent. There are also populations in Southeast Asia, but this may involve a separate species.

Description

This fish reaches up to in length, and weighs over 200 pounds. It may be the largest species in the genus. The related B. bagarius, another species where there is considerable taxonomic confusion, has – perhaps in error – been reported as reaching the same size as B. yarrelli, while others consider B. bagarius to be a dwarf species that only reaches about.

In popular culture

The Kali River goonch attacks were a series of fatal attacks on humans claimed to be perpetrated by man-eating goonch catfish in three villages on the banks of the Kali River in India, between 1998 and 2007. These attacks were made famous by Jeremy Wade of River Monsters.