Probably one of the most successful video game franchises in recent years, Monster Hunter has always been a series that has captured the imagination of many people with its fantastical yet realistic creatures. From the scary Vaal Hazak to the goofy...
While Bullfangos ended up willingly moving into cities, this isn't the case for all city slickers. Sometimes when we construct our artificial habitats, there are some animals that simply can't migrate to different locations.
When this happens, there are two possible outcomes for the animals. The first is that they just die, but the second possibility is that these species adapt to these new environments. The latter case is what happened to the Carcharolycopsar annatothalassa when the shores and rivers they inhabit were surrounded by cities like Puerto Montt in Chile.
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Also known as Gajaus or sawback catfish, these fishes are the largest members of the Loricariidae family, able to grow between 1.6 and 2.3 meters in length. Some are even bigger with the current title holder being a 2.9 meter long male called Gran Aleta. Although it's not unusual for catfish to reach large size, these goliaths dwarf their relatives which typically grow between 2.5 and 61 centimeters in length.
Thanks to these enormous sizes and ability to survive in both fresh and salt water, the massive catfish have taken the role of apex predator in the area. Gajau diet consists of small to medium size Mammals and Birds, Fish, Mollusks, and even young seals and sea lions; however, once humans arrived, stray dogs and cats quickly became prey for these giants.
When hunting, Gajaus will lay their dorsal fins against their body and remain motionless to avoid giving away their position. As they stay still, they use their whisker-like barbels to detect motion and objects in the water around them, enabling them to paint a picture of their surroundings and navigate them without the need for sight.
The barbels of these animals are so sensitive that they can identify the size of objects just by the volume of water being displaced, as well as the location of these entities. If this wasn't impressive enough, Gajau whiskers, just like the rest of their body, are covered in taste buds, making it possible for them to discover the identity, proximity, and quality of something through the compounds that are being emitted.
Once the Gajaus are sure that what they've detected is food, they'll wait for the opportune moment to strike. When attacking, they'll use their powerful tail to launch themselves at prey, slamming into them and locking their jaws around the target. Thanks to their large, shark-like teeth, once Gajaus grab a hold of their prey, it's hard for the target to escape due to how deep the fangs can go and the shocking jaw strength. Usually, the catfish's meals are small enough that they can easily overpower them and drag them into the water, if not just swallow them on the spot; however, if the victims are stronger than they seem, the hunters have another ability to help them come out on top.
Similarly to some other fish species, the pectoral fins of these creatures are surprisingly strong and capable of working like primitive arms. By digging their fins into the ground, these predators can prevent themselves from being dragged around. In addition to this, the Gajaus' pelvic fins have also gained strength and mobility, adding to their stability on land.
