Martin Glatz, a fisherman, poses with the banana yellow catfish before releasing the fish back into the sea.
Martin Glatz's boat was filled with bright yellow catfish, which floated out of the water like a huge, writhing banana. Glatz was a professional angler who went out on a Dutch lake with his twin brother Oliver to catch catfish, but never like this. Glatz panicked at first.
Glatz stated that she had never seen a catfish like it before in an email to Live Science. It still amazes me.
According to Field & Stream, the whopper is a Silurus glanis wels catfish. This large species is native to European lakes and rivers. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, these fish can reach nearly 300 pounds (130 kg) and grow to a length of 9 feet (2.7m).
They don't look nearly as banana-hued like the Glatz fish; most wels catfish have dark, black bodies with a few mottled yellow spots.
Leucism is a rare genetic disorder that results in a decrease in pigmentation of skin and hair. Live Science previously reported that leucism doesn't affect the animal’s eyes like albinism.
Leucism can be observed in reptiles, mammals, birds, and fish. This has led to striking sightings like yellow penguins or white killer whales. A leucistic yellow catfish, spotted in the Mississippi River, Iowa in 2017, made headlines in Herald & Review.
Although they may appear strangely beautiful, leucistic animals often face disadvantages in the wild. Live Science previously reported that leucistic animals stand out more against predators because of their bright, sometimes glowing bodies. They may be easier targets for predators than fully pigmented counterparts.
The honkin' wels catfish appears to have survived an early death and could grow to be even larger. Glatz took a few photographs and released the fish into the water. He hoped that the fish would grow to be "very large" so another angler could enjoy a surprise on their next fishing trip.
Original publication on Live Science
