Petikan: ritemail.blogspot.com
Ever since the movie Jaws, sharks
have been well-rooted in the public consciousness – with images of mangled
swimmers abounding in our thoughts. But sharks aside, there are also several
kinds of horrific killer fish that prowl the Earth’s freshwater and estuarine
habitats. The accounts that follow will inject your pre-existing shark phobia
with a healthy dose of general terror – for it will be seen that more than
merely sharks lurk deep within in the oceans and lakes, in which we blindly
splash about.
10. Goliath Tiger
fish
The Goliath Tigerfish is a creature
so horrific that it makes the feared Piranha look like a pet goldfish. Reaching
lengths of more than six feet, and weighing up to 70 pounds, these mega-fish
stalk the waterways of central Africa in packs – shredding even large prey in a
matter of seconds. The mouth of this yellow-eyed monster fish is studded with
giant, dagger-like canine teeth – each more than two inches long.
A number of deaths went unexplained
in the Congo River, and were attributed to a mysterious spirit foe with dark
powers – that is, until extreme angler Jeremy Wade pulled one of these horrific
creatures from the depths of the river. 09 more after the
break...
09. Piraiba
Catfish
You are paddling merrily along on
your first Amazonian fishing holiday, when you feel a tug on your line. The tug
gets harder, and you excitedly begin to hope for a 2-foot cichlid. But as the
line nears breaking point, a 9-foot-long, blue-black form breaks the surface. A
combination of fear and pride turns to horror as you spot human feet extending
from the creature’s mouth, which then growls loudly, like some kind of aquatic
jaguar. You have just caught a Piraiba – South America’s largest catfish, and a
potential man-eater. The fine teeth of this aggressive hunter curve backwards
across a cavernous mouth, preventing prey – including humans – from escaping
its grip.
08. Goonch Fish
The Kali River – which runs between
India and Nepal – had been haunted by mysterious disappearances and unexplained
drownings. The cause of the deaths was subject to the wildest speculation,
until a horrific looking brown creature over 7 feet long, with razor sharp
teeth, was captured. The Goonch is a bizarre, 300 pound member of the catfish
family, and has acquired a strong taste for human flesh.
Victims are seized and dragged to
their deaths by the prehistoric predator, before being consumed. One
17-year-old boy was captured in front of his girlfriend; a body was never
found. It is believed that the fish acquired their taste for human flesh due to
the funeral practice of burning corpses and tossing them into the river.
07. Great
Barracuda
The Great Barracuda is a living
torpedo, studded with wicked-looking 3-inch teeth. These fish may reach up to 6
feet in length, and weigh over 100 pounds. Great Barracudas are attracted to
shiny metal objects, and will attack vulnerable creatures or sources of
agitation.
To avoid barracuda attacks, you need
to stay away from areas with low visibility, as well as mangrove and estuarine
regions; you should also refrain from spearfishing. A barracuda attack could
sever tendons, rip off large amounts of flesh, and kill you in a matter of
seconds. Deaths have been confirmed in the Eastern United States.
06. Wels Catfish
European waters may seem relatively
safe – but a demonic looking killer fish, of unearthly proportions, may cause
you to rethink your planned swims in Berlin Lake, Spain’s Reservoirs, or
Russia’s Volga River. The Wels Catfish is a huge, slithering creature reaching
over 13 feet in length and weighing over 400 pounds. The fish are aggressive
predators, and capture victims with their massive rows of razor-sharp teeth.
The potential size of these creatures
is not confirmed, and historical accounts suggest lengths of up to 20 feet and
weights of over 3 tons. Recently, a German swimmer was badly bitten, while a
catfish found in Russia had an entire human body in its stomach contents.
05. Giant
Freshwater Stingray
A venomous monster lurks in the murky
waters of Southeast Asia. The famous Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin died after
being stabbed in the chest by a small ocean stingray – but that creature could
not hold a spine to the Giant Freshwater Stingray. This saucer-shaped monster
may be the world’s largest freshwater fish, at over 16 feet in length, and with
a weight of up to 2,000 pounds. The 8-inch stinger can be whipped back like
that of a scorpion to target an unsuspecting wader, while the sheer mass of the
creature also has the potential to muscle a person under water. So if the
“riverbed” you are standing on starts to move… keep very still.
04. Muskellunge
The Muskellunge has not yet led to
any confirmed fatalities, but there are certainly ominous signs that they would
be capable of such. The fish has long been feared, and grows to lengths of over
7 feet. This freshwater version of a Barracuda stalks the lakes of the Northern
Hemisphere, and has a mouth full of daggers that can easily shred waterfowl,
muskrats and perch. Muskellunge bites leave serious wounds, and an 80 pound
fish would be capable of dragging down a victim. One 13-year-old girl was
bitten and dragged underwater before escaping, and a capsized fisherman was
badly chewed while treading water. The fish lurks in the weedy edges of lakes,
lunging forward to capture prey.
03. Electric-Eel
The Electric Eel is an apex predator
from the Amazon that hunts and defends itself by releasing enough electricity
to stun a horse. The 600 volts released by this giant relative of catfish is
capable of killing a human directly through electrocution. In other cases, a
lesser shock may still knock the victim unconscious, resulting in drowning.
Electric eels may grow to over 8 feet, and weigh up to 50 pounds. Electric eels
can only be handled safely with rubber gloves. Crossing a river is highly
dangerous, as the water conducts the electricity very effectively, making it
comparable to swimming in a bathtub with a plugged in hairdryer. Deaths have
been confirmed.
02. Alligator
Gar
A prehistoric monster stalks the
waters of the southeastern United States. Reaching lengths of over 10 feet,
with a weight of over 400 pounds, the Alligator Gar is an ancient fish that
looks more like a crocodile with its huge scales and enormous, fang studded
mouth. In one case, a man was dangling his feet over a dock when a huge
Alligator Gar latched on and attempted to pull him under. He escaped with his
life – but others may not have been so lucky. Alligator Gary fatalities have
not been confirmed, but the fish could be responsible for several mysterious
drownings.
01. Bull Shark
This last fish is, technically, still
a shark. However, it is so far from a typical shark that it poses threats
beyond the worst nightmares, and deserves the number one spot on this list.
The Bull Shark is a 7-12 foot fish
weighing over 600 pounds – but with a difference. It thrives in fresh water,
and can travel thousands of miles up rivers and into lakes, even as far inland
as Missouri, Illinois or Kentucky! Bull Sharks have caused many deaths in murky
freshwater environments, the notorious case being the New Jersey river attacks.
Bull Sharks are the most aggressive shark species, possessing the highest
testosterone level of any animal. Bull Sharks also have the strongest bite
force of any living fish species.
....nasib baik lah beberapa spesis ini tiada di pengairan kita..kalu tidak..hish tak berani kawe nok main ngan air sungai...
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