Today's fish of the day is about the goonch by special request!
The gooch, also known as the giant devil catfish, is a fish that I've written about before, and those of whom have been on this email list may remember from back in February 2022. Known by the scientific name Bagarius yarrelli and synonym Bagarius bagarius (which may be another smaller species, and may simply be a misnamed juvenile goonch catfish), this fish is well known for their huge size. Found across the Indian subcontinent and Southern Asia, particularly the basins of Indus and Ganges. Living in particular in shallow beds, underwater caves, and submerged cliff faces, as these fish are known for frequenting areas of both shallows and of great depth. Most of the resources on this fish are based around the fishing legend of them. As such a large, fast, and violent fish, many anglers have created almost a mythology around them, based around tales of man eating fish, and of the skill required to find and catch them.
Very little is known about the goonch catfish, and most public perception of it comes from the American TV show Animal Planet segment called River Monsters, which searches to catch large and dangerous fish worldwide. An episode of this show covered the mythology of the Goonch, specifically after a series of people were pulled underwater the Kali River of India. It was found that a particularly large goonch (as long as 6ft 7inches, and weighing over 160 pounds) was the cause of the attacks, sightings supported this, and all local crocodiles were too small or not known to be in the area of attack, with no other large predators as far upriver. However, other than humans, on occasion of getting large enough to forcibly drown them, the diet of the goonch is entirely carnivorous. Goonch eat: invertebrates, crustaceans, amphibians, and fish. Although when larger they've also been recorded taking down much larger prey, such as water buffalo.
There is almost no knowledge about the reproduction of goonch catfish. All research I have done suggests there are no instances of captive breeding, and no observations of wild spawning. Most catfish spawn in the warmer months of summer, with female catfish releasing anywhere between 3,000 to several hundred thousand a season, with male fish releasing milt to fertilize these eggs. During these spawning seasons, catfish often meet in rocky crevasse at nests, where sometimes one parent will watch the eggs in species of monogamous fish. However, there is some more knowledge about the goonch catfish itself. Their wild lifespan is unknown, but in captivity Goonch Catfish live anywhere between 5 to 10 years, and display no sexual dimorphism between male and female goonch.
That's the goonch catfish, everybody! Have a wonderful day!
