Biwa Catfishビワコオオナマズ
Silurus biwaensisEN— Endangered
The giant Lake Biwa catfish is a large, elongated predator found nowhere else on Earth but Lake Biwa and its outflow rivers in Japan. As the apex predator of the lake, it preys on fish such as ayu and crucian carp, and Japanese folklore has long linked catfish like this one to the prediction of earthquakes.
Biwa Catfish (reference photo)
Species Data
Did You Know?
- It is the largest predatory fish in Lake Biwa, sitting at the top of the lake's food chain, and grows relatively quickly, reaching 60 to 80 cm in length within 4 to 5 years. Source
- Telemetry studies show individuals are largely site-faithful, staying close to their spawning grounds, and local folklore holds that the catfish become unusually active before earthquakes, echoing Japan's broader namazu (catfish) earthquake mythology. Source
Where to See This Species
1 facilities · 0 individuals
滋賀県立琵琶湖博物館 (Shiga Kenritsu Biwako Hakubutsukan)ShigaJR琵琶湖線「草津」駅下車（新快速で京都から約20分）、西口2番バス乗り場から近江鉄道バス「琵琶湖博物館行き」（約25分）「琵琶湖博物館」下車すぐ。
ビワコオオナマズのWikipedia記事に飼育施設として記載 Source
Source links to official sites, official YouTube channels, and news aggregators such as Zoo Ring. Visit the publisher for the full item.
Conservation Story
Conservation Status
Silurus biwaensisはIUCNでENです。琵琶湖水系に限られる固有種であることが保全上の重要性を高めています。
Habitat
琵琶湖の沖合と沿岸、流入河川。
Threats
- 沿岸域の改変
- 産卵・成育場所の減少
- 水質や水位環境の変化
Conservation & Breeding Efforts
- 琵琶湖水系の生息環境保全
- 飼育下での繁殖・生態研究
Sources
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FAQ
- How big does the giant Lake Biwa catfish get?
- It can reach up to about 1.18 to 1.2 meters in length and weigh as much as 17 to 20 kilograms, making it the largest predatory fish in Lake Biwa. Source
- Where is the giant Lake Biwa catfish found?
- It is endemic to Lake Biwa and its outflow, the Yodo River system, and is not found naturally anywhere else in the world. Source
Source: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org