Congo is the deepest river on the planet, the second in the world (after the Amazon) in terms of fullness and length of approximately 4700 km. The only waterway crossing the equator twice, in its rich basin has a large number of diverse representatives of the African flora and fauna: more than 20 species of small fish and about 875 large species. Giant monitor lizards, large crocodiles, small turtles and snakes are far from a complete list of the inhabitants of such a chic reserve. About 250 species of them are rare, and most are simply unknown to science.
Congo - the river that sheltered the monster
Due to the strong current, the Congo River is a kind of evolutionary cauldron, contributing to the isolation of fish in certain sectors. This is due to the impotence of the latter before the power of the current. This forced isolation contributes to the emergence of a large number of unusual representatives of the animal world. The only individual that feels comfortable in the frantic game of the flow is the goliath tiger fish, a water monster that inspires fear and awe.
The river flow itself carries potential victims to its mouth, unable to resist the power of the water element.
The fish got its nickname for the gigantic dimensions that the great warrior Goliath was famous for, having a height of 2 m 89 cm. And she is called the "tiger" for the horizontally dark stripes on the sides of the body. The first big goliath tiger fish was described in 1861. The African inhabitant is most often found in Lake Tanganyik and in the rivers Congo, Nile, Senegal, Omo. Large rivers and large lakes are the most comfortable habitat for the river giant. It can lead a pack life with individuals of its own species or predators similar to itself. Males are an order of magnitude larger than females.
Goliath: description of a predator
Goliath tiger fish with a strong elongated body, covered with large silver scales, and small pointed fins (red or bright orange) has all the qualities inherent exclusively to a predator:
- Length - up to 2 meters.
- Weight - 50 kg and more.
- Life expectancy: 12 to 15 years.
- Very large head with a large mouth.
- 32 teeth sharpened like a razor, the goliath tiger fish grabs them and rips the victim, without even chewing it. Over the course of life, new ones grow in place of the falling teeth.
- Excellent hearing, as well as the ability to feel prey on low-frequency vibrations.
- The ability to move easily in rough waters.
Goliath tiger fish: what it eats
In the natural environment, fish is omnivorous, its main food is fish and small mammals, although plant food and detritus are also included in the diet of the river monster, which, by its bloodthirstiness, can compete with the Amazonian piranha.
During periods of hunger attacks, the goliath is capable of attacking a person, and sometimes does not shun crocodiles, in nature these cases have been reported.
In nature, female goliath tiger fish spawn only a few days during the rainy season (December - January). Migrating from large rivers to small tributaries, females lay a large amount of eggs among dense vegetation in small places. For hatching fry, the initial period of life is more than comfortable, this is shallow water, warm water and an abundance of feed. Over time, the grown individuals are carried into large rivers.
Monster hunting is a matter of honor
Goliath tiger fish is one of the most frightening freshwater fish in the world, therefore in Africa fishing for it is extremely popular among the local population, it can be compared to a successful bear hunt in the taiga.
For every angler, such fishing is a real adventure, turning a dangerous predator into an unfortunate prey and a welcome prey, for which anglers from all over the world come to hunt on the banks of the Congo River.
Goliath tiger fish is the most terrible freshwater fish in the world, so it’s quite difficult to catch this giant, as it can bite a fishing line of any thickness with its sharp teeth. Knowledgeable anglers use special leashes that are made of very durable steel. Only in this way can a giant be fished from its habitat and get to know it on land.
Jeremy Wade, an expert on freshwater fish and the host of the River Monsters program, engaged in fishing from an early age, managed to catch such a giant individual. Over his 52 years, having managed to visit various parts of the globe, he always brought unusual representatives of the river fauna from there.
For more than a week the hunter plowed inaccessible places of the river, for which he was rewarded with the long-awaited catch. A giant weighing 70 kg and a length of 1.5 meters still fell into his hands.
The photo of the goliath tiger fish, in which it is in the hands of Jeremy, admires the experience and fearlessness of this brave man.