The river catfish may be overshadowed by its famed cousin, the Mekong giant catfish, which shares the same river system in Southeast Asia. But this less celebrated species is a remarkable fish in its own right and, at 5 feet (1.5 meters) and 99 pounds (45 kilograms), it has no apologies to make in the size department.

River catfish are known to inhabit Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia. Every year they leave the lake and enter the Mekong River as part of their annual spawning cycle. Breeding begins at the onset of the region's rainy season (May-July).

These unique fish have the nickname "iridescent shark catfish," a seemingly ill-suited comparison for a toothless, freshwater fish. The nickname arises from its tendency to