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catfish approx 30 cm long. serrated dorsal and pectoral spines. 7 dorsal rays(+1 spine); anal rays approx 9-12; pectoral rays approx 5-8; snout rectangular, flattened, 4 pairs of barbels (2 chin+ 1 maxillary + 1 nasal)(2

Giant river-catfish

Large bagrid catfish from South Asian rivers

Photo: Staticd, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Giant river-catfish is a large freshwater species found across southern Asia. It serves as both a commercial food source and a popular sport fish due to its fighting ability when hooked.

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  • Can reach lengths of 150 cm
  • Found in rivers across southern Asia
  • Popular gamefish known for fighting
  • Distinguished by a blunt spatulate snout
  • Commercially fished for human food

What it is

This species belongs to the bagrid family of catfish. It features a distinctive spatulate and blunt snout. The mouth width is only one third of the head length. Barbels are relatively short compared to similar fish. Adults can grow up to 150 centimetres long. Most individuals caught are smaller, around 40 centimetres. The body shape is typical for river dwelling catfish.

Where it lives

Its distribution covers southern Asia extensively. Populations exist in Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Reports also place it in Myanmar and Thailand. Some records indicate presence in Yunnan province, China. It inhabits freshwater systems throughout these regions. The fish thrives in river environments across this vast geographic area.

How it lives

The diet is strictly carnivorous. It hunts other animals for sustenance. Anglers value it as a gamefish. The species has a reputation for fighting hard when hooked. This behaviour makes it a challenging target for recreational fishing. It shares waters with other catfish but remains distinct.

Giant river-catfish
A drawing made by EveryFish from what this page says. It is a diagram, not a picture of the real fish.

Fish and people

Fishermen catch it for commercial sale. It provides food for local human consumption. Recreational anglers also pursue it for sport. The struggle it puts up on the line attracts enthusiasts. Local communities know it by many names such as Guizza or Seenghala. It holds economic value in regional fisheries.

Sperata seenghala (Sykes, 1839) (syn. Platystoma seenghala )
Sperata seenghala (Sykes, 1839) (syn. Platystoma seenghala ). Photo: J. Swaine (artist), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
dorsal view of head of Sperata seenghala . note that the pectoral spines have been removed.
dorsal view of head of Sperata seenghala . note that the pectoral spines have been removed.. Photo: Staticd, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Questions people ask about Giant river-catfish

How big does the Giant river-catfish get?

It can reach a maximum length of 150 centimetres. However, most individuals are smaller. Lengths around 40 centimetres are more commonly observed in catches.

Where is this catfish found?

It lives in southern Asia. Countries include Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bangladesh. There are also reports from Myanmar, Thailand and Yunnan in China.

Is it good for eating or fishing?

Yes, it is commercially fished for food. It is also a popular gamefish. Anglers appreciate its reputation for being a strong fighter when hooked.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Sperata seenghala", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryFish rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes, and figures change over time. Nothing here is investment or buying advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-11-15.

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Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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