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Kura river’s eerie predator - Catfish

14.03.2022 [20:31]
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Baku, March 14, AZERTAC

The Kura river’s eerie predator - Pangitius platygaster, also known as the Catfish.

The catfish is fluvial anadromous. Adults feed primarily on fish (white-eye, bream, lamprey and in the sea, roach).

In the sea, it inhabits the littoral, especially south of the Kura river. The migration into the Kura River occurs all year round. Mass migration coincides with a water temperature of 18 to 20 Celsius. In autumn, some individuals enter the lower courses of the Kura River from the sea and occupy holes in the bottom for wintering.

Some individuals may be 250 cm long and weigh up to 100 kg. More typically, the body length in catches varies from 70 to 100 cm at a weight of 3.7 to 10.5 kg. Maturity is reached at the age of three or four, by which time males and females are not distinguishable. In the past, 25 years old individuals could be found in catches.