Rhitu Chatterjee

Rhitu Chatterjee

Rhitu Chatterjee is a science correspondent for The World.

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Pigeon Hunting Catfish, the ‘Freshwater Killer Whales’

December 6, 2012 ⋅ Post a comment
Catfish attacking pigeon (Photo: Ed Yong/YouTube)

Catfish attacking pigeon (Photo: Ed Yong/YouTube)

Some catfish in France’s Tarn river come on land to hunt pigeons. Those catfish and their unusual hunting behavior is the topic of a new study.

The European catfish are native to Eastern Europe. They were introduced by anglers to the Tarn river in Southwestern France in the 1980s. They have only recently developed the habit of pouncing on unsuspecting pigeons hanging out by the water.

Anchor Marco Werman speaks with The World’s science reporter Rhitu Chatterjee, who explains just how the catfish track their prey and hunt them down.

Watch these catfish in action in this video.

Compare the catfish’s hunting style with that of the Orca (killer whale) in the video below:

Discussion

4 comments for “Pigeon Hunting Catfish, the ‘Freshwater Killer Whales’”

  • http://www.facebook.com/joy.joysquirt Joysquirt Joy

    that is freaky

  • http://www.facebook.com/joy.joysquirt Joysquirt Joy

    Is this Isabella Rosellini talking? I love Isabella!  Heard about catfish doing this and, indeed this is very strange to watch a catfish hunt a pigeoon. What next, people’s toes?. I am such a wimp because I feel so sorry for the bird but would fry a catfish anyday.

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/4KOYLPKXWWJSCYYPLEZQVMSORY Lester M

    Watching one of those cat fish video’s they showed a snapping turtle coming up and grabbing a pigeon. That was a surprise to me. Catfish was also.

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/FQ6YU6DEP35CTHJC4JI56B6ZV4 harold ewing

    Never saw a catfish do that in 42 yrs of fishing but once I was fishing in a lake I never had fished and a 48 lb catfish got it self hung eating a blugill I had just put on a stringer hanging from the dock.  It had swallowed the fish and i saw this and netted it….wow.