The ocean is home for many amazing sea creatures, specifically fish. Get to know these largest creatures in the ocean too! However, it is not the only place where we can find fish.

Some hidden beneath the murky waters of the freshwater rivers and lakes are also homes for some huge fish. Most freshwater fish tend to be smaller than the ones we find in the salty ocean, however, there are some that can grow to impressive sizes. Make sure you also read these gigantic freshwater fishes too!

Ranging from bull sharks to giant stingrays, here are the 7 largest freshwater fish in the world with their own characteristics.

Mekong Giant Catfish

There is no catfish can exceed the size of Mekong giant catfish, though most species of catfish can grow to mammoth sizes. This species of catfish can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh around 650 pounds.

Due to this size, they become prized cat. Unfortunately, these giant catfish have been nearly fished to extinction. Though their status now is protected, they are likely to be critically endangered because of the construction of upstream dams on the Mekong River.

These catfish can be found around Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos. Regarding to their diet, they are herbivores as they feed mainly on zooplanktons.

Giant Freshwater Stingray

The giant freshwater stingray was firstly discovered by scientists in the 1900s. These fish can grow to massive sizes. Some of them weigh in excess of 1,300 pounds and measure 15 feet across.

They mainly feed on small fish, crustaceans and mollusks. Stingray is also known as one of the sea creatures that can sting.

These stingrays can be found mainly in Papua New Guinea, Thailand, Australia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos. This fish is able to inject some venoms and piercing bone with their serrated spike. Unfortunately, they are endangered because of fishing and habitat loss.

Paddlefish

As their name suggests, paddlefish are known for their paddle-shaped snout. They love to open their mouths to capture zooplanktons. There are two extant species of these fish, the Chinese paddlefish and the American paddlefish.

The Chinese paddlefish mainly inhabit the Yangtzi River and are critically endangered and even possibly extinct due to overfishing and habitat loss. The Chinese paddlefish may be as long as 10 feet.

Meanwhile, the American paddlefish mainly inhabit the Mississippi River basin and once lived in the Great Lakes in Canada. They can weigh up to 150 pounds and be 8 feet long.

Bull Shark

Bull sharks are mainly found in a coastal and freshwater that spend most of their time in tropical and subtropical bodies of water around the world. They can be as long as 11 feet, though most of them are around 6 to 7.5 feet long.

These sharks can be found in shallow water, and due to this fact, they become the only sharks that can endure the extended periods in freshwater. If you love sharks, get to know these amazing sharks around the world too.

Bull sharks are aggressive as they can attack humans. Unfortunately, this species of sharks is nearly threatened due to human interaction and loss of habitats.

Giant Barb

Giant barb is a species of carps which is known to be the largest of the species. Giant barbs can be found in Southeast Asia. They are able to grow up to 10 feet long and adults are rarely found shorter than 5 feet.

Despite their size, giant barbs are harmless species of fish. They mainly feed on small organisms, such as algae, fruits and phytoplankton.

Unfortunately, giant barbs are also critically endangered due to overfishing and loss of habitats.

Beluga

Beluga is a species of sturgeon which inhabits portions of the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea. The Beluga may be the largest freshwater fish as they continue to grow through their lifetime, which can be around 100 years.

Some of them have ever been found nearly 24 feet long and weighed around 3,500 pounds! The belugas hatch their eggs in freshwater rivers and as they grow up, they continue to live in saltwater, returning upriver to spawn.

Regarding to their status, the belugas are critically endangered as their population keeps decreasing.

Arapaima

Arapaimas are the inhabitants of the Amazon River. Get the complete list of endangered animals in the Amazon rainforest too. These giant fish are also known as piracucu in Brazil and paiche in Peru. They are considered as living fossils too as they have been around since the Miocene.

In terms of their size, they can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh up to 300 pounds. Unfortunately, due to overfishing, now they reach about 6 feet long and 275 pounds. Amazingly, they can survive up to 24 hours outside the water.