Giant cannibalistic somers: truth or myth?

If we are interested in the existence of giant cannibal somnambles, we will hear numerous narrative chilling stories about fish-killers dragging under the water and swallowing whole geese, dogs that came to watering lambs and even bathing children.

Here is one example of such a sensation. On the Dnieper, near the island of Khortitsa, a ship suffered a disaster. Three Polish tourists were moved to a motor boat, but they did not reach the shore. A few days later, a five-meter catfish was caught, in the stomach of which human remains were found. And the motor boat was with a hole, made, apparently, a mighty head of a catfish-ogre.

The story of the bike reminds a bit of Melville's "Moby Dick", but in the original the sperm whale performed the main character. And he is known to be a mammal, and very intelligent. Yes, and the teeth of this sea beast is equipped not as an example better than the bottom inhabitant of lakes and rivers. But is there smoke without fire? Maybe, it's not in vain that the water in the form of a giant fish appears in the folklore of different peoples, pulling unwary swimmers under the water? Is it true or a myth that there are giant soma-killers?

Yes, this freshwater fish is a predator. Tales talk about real "torpedoes" at 6.3 meters long and with half a ton of weight. However, a clearly recorded record was set in Italy, in the Po Valley, on the Adige River. In March 2011, professional fisherman Roberto Godi and his friends dragged their trophy ashore for about 50 minutes. The caught specimen was weighed, measured and released in peace. Parameters - two and a half meters and weight 114 kg - were entered in the Guinness Book in the section "the largest freshwater fish." But the giant catfish, which are found in Thailand, took away the laurels of the championship from the Italian colleague: 2.7 meters and 293 kg - this sum was summed up by the country's authorities.

But it's all highs. A typical fisherman often finds himself a "trifle" in ten to twenty kilos of weight. This is all because the species of this fish is almost completely destroyed in our rivers and lakes. On the hook with the worm come across small crumpled. They should be released, because the sexual maturity of these fish comes in the fourth year of life. Giant catfish reach impressive sizes (from 80 to 100 kg), only reaching the venerable age of fifty years.

Fishermen, who dream of catching a big trophy, should be stocked not only with a strong fishing line, but also with a good dexterity. Yes, and help will not hurt. After all, catfish are very strong fish. His mouth is full of small teeth, but the main diet is not people. It's fish, shellfish, toads. Inhabitant predator in the river pits, in the pools. Because of his size, he does not like the long pursuit of prey. It attacks the fish from an ambush, but basically it can be said that the catfish is a scavenger, a sanitary man of fresh water. This explains the facts of finding the remains of a man in his stomach. But the fish would hardly have attacked a live swimmer. Most likely, she was very opportunely turned into a drowned man. So, do you need catching a giant catfish? After all, from the divided carcass often smacks of rotten stuff and mud!

Soma do not like fast currents, and also a large number of ships. They generally prefer quiet lakes with a clumsy bottom. But that the water in them was clean, not muddy. Therefore, huge specimens of this type of fish appeared recently in reservoirs. So, in 2007, a giant catfish was caught on a fishing pole at Kapchagai, in Kazakhstan. The trophy was 274 cm long and weighed 130 kg. A little later, already on the kvok, a catfish with a length of 2.6 m was caught. This giant weighed 105 kg.