Top Interesting Fresh-Water Species

People are aware of how animals can be dangerous to them. In sober fact, most of us are familiar with wildlife and aggressive behavior of invasive animal species, but less attention is paid to fresh-water “residents”. Among them one can define fish, some arthropods, reptiles and many other animals’ families, which significantly influence on local ecosystems. To be more specific, some species might be extremely dangerous to other animals and even small mammals notwithstanding common image of peaceful fresh-water inhabitants.1. Snakeheads open the list of top furious fresh-water species. These fish remained in disappearance for a long time, before some fisher caught it in Maryland bay. It was a huge sensation in American mass media. These predators can reach one meter in length due to their gluttonous nature, which features eating invertebrates, frogs and small fish. In addition to “successful” hunting skills, snakeheads can also stay above water surface for four days, I mean on the air.2. Mata mata turtle does not pose any threat to humans as well, but this South-American species prefer to live in clean aquatic environment. The objects of their hunting are the same, but its image is much magnifical. These turtles can weight nearly 15 kg, which one should agree makes them pretty weird species. These strange animals prefer to live in the freshwater area with shallow, stagnant water, so they can safely stick their heads out of the water to breathe.3. Giant catfish is considered fresh-water scavenger, both in African and in Asian rivers. This catfish can weight several hundred kilograms, and, therefore, it cannot but pull in an attention of poachers. By the way, Mekong catfish is on the verge of extinction list. An age of expectancy of giant catfish is about 60 years and at the same time they do not usually live that much. Mainly due to local environmental changes to the worse. This species are also glorified in local Nepal and African legends, Kali River killer catfish, for example.4. Diving bell spider is the only arthropod species living under the water surface. As any other insect, it breathes with an air, which is taken from the air bubble spired creates around the body. It is supported by the air from above, but this spider does not appear afloat. A bite of diving bell spider might be considered dangerous, but not deathful. It might result in some fever.5. Fresh-water rays are little researched in modern zoology.  Regardless, they prey on clams and crabs, hitting them with electric pulses. There were attacks on large animals, as well as overturning boats, but attacks on humans have not been recorded.