The sea is home to many dangered species. In addition, like large sharks and other mammals that can exhibit violent behavior patterns, the ocean is home to some deadly venomous animals, such as sea snakes, blue-ringed owls, some jellyfish, and fish. And there are still many unknown animals living in the ocean.
Although we have heard of many dangered species living in saltwater, we rarely hear of dangerous freshwater animals such as rivers and lakes. The crocodile is the most ferocious and most famous predator living in a freshwater ecosystem. Apart from the crocodile, this article brings you details of ten other dangered freshwater animals. Their danger can be based on several factors. Some species are dangered due to their impact on the ecosystem in the face of invasive predators. Some members of the list live in one geographical region of the world.
Electric fish
Although the eels look like a species because of their body shape, they are not actually called eels. According to the scientific classification, electric fish are the closest species to carp and catfish. Electric fish live along the Amazon and Orinoco rivers in South America. They can generate up to 600 volts of electricity, and the electric shock can paralyze most of the animals around them. Therefore, electric fish can be called successful predators.
Electric fish can kill even a human with an electric shock. The duration of the electric shock depends on the severity of the damage. So often, electric fish electric shocks are not fatal to humans.
The African tigerfish
Tigerfish have a somewhat dangerous appearance. Tigers with long, sharp teeth eat any fish that is smaller than their body size. Tigerfish do not hesitate to eat even their own species. When unsatisfied with their diet, they can catch even a bird that flies near the surface of the water.
The largest of the African tiger fishes is the “Goliath Tiger.” It can grow up to 1.5 meters in height and weighs about 15.5 kilograms. Due to this species’ large teeth and ferocious behavior, even a large terrestrial animal can prey on a herd.
Although there are no human victims, there have been reports of people attacking people living in the Congo. However, it is not clear whether they are true or false.
Piranha
The piranha is a species of fish that has even been the subject of movies. Piranhas are also successful predators of rivers in South America. Piranhas, which live in groups, can eat animal carcasses to the bone within minutes.
Piranhas generally follow a routine that humans avoid. When food is scarce, and water levels are low, the piranha population in one place can rise. At such moments, even piranhas can attack humans. It is said that children are the most vulnerable to these attacks. There have been reports of casualties in Brazil amid occasional piranha herd attacks.
Wells catfish
The Welsh catfish is a large freshwater fish species endemic to Central, Southern, and Eastern Europe. They are also reported to live in marine environments such as the Baltic, Caspian, and Black Seas. This freshwater fish is so large that a Welsh catfish can grow up to 5 meters in length and weigh 300 pounds [300 kg].
Due to their enormous size, they have a large number of prey species. They prey on small prey, such as snails, insects, fish, frogs, and large animals of their own species, such as ducks. Most notably, they follow a hunting pattern that approaches land, catches pigeons, and drags them back into the water. Attacks by a Welsh catfish seeking protection can also be harmful to humans.
Freshwater stingray
This freshwater stingray belongs to the family Potamotrygonidae and is endemic to rivers in the Caribbean of South America. Stingray is a dangerous species because of its tail attacks. In addition, they have a thorn in their tail, which can cause severe injuries if attacked by the tail. However, the attacks are less strict in South America because of the small size of the freshwater moose species. Furthermore, because they live in low-water waterways, they are more likely to be attacked by ignorance.
Things change when talking about freshwater stingray, which lives along the rivers and estuaries of Southeast Asia. The freshwater stingray in Southeast Asia is enormous in size.
They grow up to 1.9 m wide and 5 m long. And their tail thorn grows up to 38 cm, making their attacks more severe than those of the South American species. An attack has the potential to inflict deep wounds on a person’s bones.
Bull Shark
If you thought the ocean was the only place sharks should be afraid of, you would have to reconsider that belief. “bull sharks” are dangerous marine members, and they have been reported even from the freshwater environment. They can adapt to freshwater as well as brackish water to find food. Bull sharks have been reported about 2500 miles inland from the Amazon estuary. There is also a case of a bull shark being captured from the Mississippi River in the United States. This can be considered a dangerous situation as there have been reports of more shark attacks on humans.
Candiru
Candiru is a parasitic fish species. They usually attach to the gills of large fish and live as parasites. In addition, there have been reports of Candiru fish being found in contact with the human urinary tract. Although those events are somewhat controversial, people who know about Candiru fish make sure they do not enter the waterways where they are abundant.
If these fish, which live along the Amazon River, come in contact with the genital area of humans, they may develop infections or even require surgery. Therefore, entering areas where they are abundant is harmful to humans.
Snakehead
Snakehead fish is a freshwater animal that is harmful to humans because they are identified as an invasive species. Invasive animals destabilize ecosystems, and humans have to suffer the consequences. Snakehead fish grow to more than three feet in length and tend to attack anyone they encounter during the breeding season.
wolffish
An endemic to South America, it grows to more than a meter in length and weighs up to 90 pounds. Wolffish with very sharp teeth can prey on everything from small invertebrates to large animals.
Alligator Snapping Turtle
Alligator Snapping Turtle is a relatively large reptile. Males weigh between 70 and 80 pounds [70 to 80 kg]. These animals are found in the freshwater ecosystem from northern Florida in the United States to eastern Texas.
Their specially adapted tongue attracts prey to alligator snappings. They come to the bottom of the river, open their mouths, and move their unique tongue like a worm. The fish then forage for food and swim between the strong jaws of these animals.
The Alligator Snapping Tortoise is also considered a dangerous creature because of its strong jaws. The pressure of their bite is about a thousand pounds. Not to mention the damage caused by the bite of an animal that can exert such pressure, isn’t it?
Cover Image: Creative Presentation of Pirana 3D Movie – madmikesamerica.com
