It is important to know that swimming in freshwater can also be harmful. That is because there are some dangerous freshwater fish roaming the river or lake that you swim in. You should know these predators and avoid venturing into their territory just to be safe. Imagine jumping into the water and coming back leaving some of your toes to the fish for snacks. Nope. On second thought, don’t imagine that. I don’t include the piranhas in the list since everybody knows what they can do. Take a look at these dangerous freshwater fish here and remember their names and their habitats.
1Bull Shark
Bull sharks are unique creatures that can live in both freshwater and saltwater, and well, they feed on humans. You know what a shark can do to us, so you know the drill. Stay alert. I can’t describe the exact habitats of the bull sharks, because they are EVERYWHERE. Where there is water, there is bull shark no matter if it is freshwater or saltwater. Unfortunately, their population is great up north, especially in the United States. So be careful.
Related Post: Euryhaline Fish That Can Live In Both Freshwater & Saltwater
2Electric Catfish
Not so experienced as an electric eel, the electric catfish can only generate 300-400 volts of power. Not as high as the eel, but that is still enough to kill us. They are found in tropical Africa and the Nile River.
3Electric Eel
Who would want to be electrocuted? In the water, by an eel? An electric eel can generate electricity up to 600 volts, and that is not simple. I might be bad at physics, but at least I know that 600 volts is not something I would want to experience. What they do is knock us unconscious with their superpower. And we tend to drown when we are unconscious in the water. That is why you should be careful when you swim in the Amazon river.
4Giant Freshwater Stingray
By giant, they can grow as big as 16 feet and weigh up to 2000 pounds. That makes their stinger reach the length of 8 feet at least. A giant freshwater stingray’s sting is sheathed in toxic mucus and it is capable of piercing bones underwater. The good thing is that stingray is very gentle, they are not aggressive. Giant freshwater stingrays will not attack unprovoked, just make sure to stay from their barbed tails. They are found in Southeast Asia exactly where I live, water is not my favorite place.
5Goliath Tigerfish
As you can see, the teeth of the Goliath Tigerfish are not so pleasant to watch. This type of fish can grow as long as more than 6 feet in length with weight up to 70 pounds. With that size and those teeth, your flesh is done in a few bites. Their habitats are in the Congo River and Lake Tanganyika.
6Goonch Fish
Be careful if you venture into The Kali River because something bizarre is roaming the river every day. Just so you know, the Goonch Fish is one of the freshwater monsters that you wish you’ll never meet. They can grow as long as 7 feet long and 300 pounds in weight. This type of fish has razor-sharp teeth, and it is not afraid to drag you down in the river. Oh, and it won’t let you come back to the surface to tell the tale. Human is their number 1 main course, letting you go is not in the options.
7Great Barracuda
To make it precise, each of the Great Barracuda’s teeth is 3 inches. As they grow, they can reach up to the length of 6 feet and 100 pounds in weight. Make sure you stay away from mangrove and estuarine regions. You know fish can jump, right? With those teeth, one bite can cost your leg or at least half of it. These fish have killed people before, and they surely will if they have the chance to.
8Muskellunge
If a fish have teeth this many, there is nothing that they can’t do to us human. They can grow up to 7 feet and weigh up to 80 pounds. This weight my friend, is strong enough to drag a victim for a ride underwater. They live in the lakes of the Northern Hemisphere, let’s just say we won’t meet them.
9Payara
Payara aka Sabre Toothed Tiger Fish is one of the deadliest predators in the Amazon River. They have absolutely strong jaws and sharp teeth that are not afraid to bite. These 2 lower jaws are not something you want to feel deep in your flesh.
10Piraiba Catfish
Known as a man-eater, the Paraiba catfish is a friend to no men. They have hunter-type of teeth in their mouth that are ready to taste humans. This scary catfish can reach 9 feet in length with a size as big as a man. Since it is the South America’ s largest catfish and a carnivore, it can eat us anytime we are careless. You can find them in Amazon and Orinoco basins as well as other tropical freshwater habitats in South America.
11Potato Puffer
If you wonder how something can be ugly and cute at the same time, look at puffers. They are also dangerous. The potato puffer, while the name is cute, has a beak that can rip through flesh. That beak can also harm people as well. Even if they are not too dangerous, and they can’t eat you whole, at least they take your fingers.
12Wels Catfish
If it can grow up to 13 feet in length and 400 pounds in weight, of course, it can swallow us whole. Wels Catfish is the fish that no one wants to see. They have razor-sharp teeth, and they are so aggressive. The wels catfish enjoy swimming and attacking people in Berlin Lake, Spain’s Reservoirs, and Russia’s Volga River. If you wonder what worse could they have done, here is the answer. There was an entire human body found in the stomach of this type of catfish in Russia. That is what they can do to any of us.
Related Post: Most Dangerous Animals In The Amazon River
