Wallago attu
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| Wallago attu Bloch & Schneider, 1801 |
Wallago attu is a species of catfish in the family Siluridae, or "sheatfishes". The fish is commonly known by its genus name, wallago. Found in large rivers and lakes, it can reach 2.4 m (8 feet) total length. This south Asian fish is found from Pakistan to Vietnam and Indonesia, and is also reported from Afghanistan.
In Malaysia, the wallago is known as "Ikan Tapah," and this name is the origin of the name of a Malaysian town, Tapah. Also known as: Wallagonia attu, Boal Fish.
[edit] Aggressiveness
In Bengal and Assam, it is known as Boal. Its common to find huge frogs and fishes inside its stomach, when cut for cooking. It has been claimed that in some areas of Thailand the natives fear the species because of its believed habit of eating small ducks, dogs, and small children. It is thought the Tapah became this aggressive due to natives laying to rest their dead in the water. The catfish would then see this as a ready supply of food.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ Magallanes, Frank. Wallago Attu, Man Eating Catfish. Retrieved on 2007-09-27.
[edit] External links
- "Wallago attu". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. March 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
- Wallago attu (TSN 164079). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved on 6 June 2006.
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