In A Nutshell
The scary-sounding name “characin” is the fish order defined by living in fresh water, shoaling habits, and truly wicked teeth. Piranhas are the most notorious characin, but another, far more deadly characin stalks the Congo River. The Goliath tigerfish grows to around 1.5 meters (5 ft) in length, and makes its piranha relative look like an aquarium guppy. This pack-hunting “super piranha” is feared as a potential man-killer.
The Whole Bushel
Characins are a large group of mostly tropically bony fish. Endemic to fresh water, these fascinating creatures are defined by their teeth and fluorescent colors as much as any trait. As well as the infamous piranhas, many familiar aquarium fish such as the neon tetra are, in fact, characins, armed with multitudes of little razor teeth. Piranhas have terrible teeth, but they can still be considered relatively small fish.
When characins get truly big and evolve to become mega-predators, the results may be nothing short of nightmarish. The king of characins makes the piranha look like a pet goldfish. It is terrible water beast and a magnificent animal worth protecting. In the whitewater sections of Africa’s Congo River, the Goliath tigerfish is found. Weighing up to 50 kilograms (110 lbs) and measuring around 1.5 meters in length, this enormous, green, yellow, and brown fish with shimmering scales is massive and powerful enough to take on nearly anything it encounters.
Like its giant piranha relative, this it is a shoaling species, making the verdict even more damning for its prey. The ferocious fish sports teeth so enormous they appear to be lion’s fangs attached to the huge, but eerily typical-looking giant fish. Each tooth may measure over 3 centimeters (7.5 in) in length. The fish uses the same shimmering scales of its prey as a signal to attack.
Unfortunately, humans wearing or holding anything remotely shiny or bright near the water may become targets. One individual is scary enough, but when an entire shoal of 50-kilogram “water tigers” attacks a visitor, the verdict seems dim. A number of gruesome attacks have been alleged, and the creature is thought to have dragged unfortunate rivergoers to their death. The most disturbing case involved a river boating accident, where victims disappeared under somewhat perplexing circumstances. As top predators, these monster fish are still important, stabilizing elements of the river ecosystem.
Show Me The Proof
Never Swim in the Congo: Goliath Tigerfish
Animal Planet: Goliath Tigerfish