The Piraiba (Brachyplatystoma filamentosum) is the largest species of Amazonian catfish. It is known locally as the Lau Lau.
River Monsters[]
The Piraiba is rumored by some to swallow men whole. These legends appear in the River Monsters episode, "Amazon Flesh Eaters" where Jeremy is able to get his hands on a large individual. However, very large fish can grow to 300 or 400 pounds. The one Jeremy caught was only a comparatively meager 70 pounds.
Jeremy then tracks down a report written by President Roosevelt about some of these fish and other tales of certain individuals reaching 10 or 12 feet. These are said to be even more feared than the Caiman. In the episode "Man-Eating Monster" Jeremy follows these reports to the Essequibo River in Guyana. Here he spends a long time fishing in non-rainy periods.
However, the lack of fish begins to torment Jeremy. A caiman and some possible others invade his camp forcing him to move. Finally, the rain abates. A rainbow is seen over the jungle, and Jeremy awakens to howler monkeys. He catches a Redtail Catfish, and he states that his spirits are lifted.
That night he has a trap waiting for a lau lau, and soon a fish bites. Wade reels in an odd beast when his other reel begins to scream. After a long battle Wade lands a 250 pound specimen.
Description[]
The Piraiba is probably the largest of the Amazonian catfish, and debatably the largest Amazonian fish. The back of the Piraiba is dark grey to black, while the underside is completely white. Piraiba have very large, spiky dorsal fins, and some compare them to sharks.
Jeremy Wade vs Lau Lau
Gallery[]
.jpg "Piraiba (small).jpg (15 KB)")
