Gulper Catfish

As the name suggests, this fish's most notable feature is it's extremely large, upturned mouth.

These fish hail from the mighty Amazon river. At first look, they do not seem to have teeth. In reality their mouths are have rows of rough, sand-paper like bristles that help grab onto their meals. 

The gulper cat Asterophysus batrachus Kner, 1858 is a member of the family Auchenipteridae (driftwood or auchenipterid catfishes), which occur in rivers from southern Central America to extreme southern South America (specifically Argentina). The auchenipterid cats all exhibit a scaleless (or “naked) body and three pairs of barbels (except in one species), of which the maxillary pair is the longest.

Asterophysus batrachus is a native of northern South America, specifically the Rio Orinoco and Rio Negro drainages of Venezuela and Brazil.

The Gulper Catfish (Asterophysus batrachus) is a rare and fascinating predatory catfish species native to the rivers of Venezuela and Brazil in South America. First scientifically described in the early 20th century, this species is known for its disproportionately large mouth, which it uses to swallow prey nearly as large as itself—hence the name "Gulper."

In the wild, it feeds primarily on live fish, and in captivity, it thrives on a diet of feeder fish and shrimp. They should be housed alone. Gulpers are ambush predators.

Due to their unique feeding habits and behavior, they’re best suited for experienced aquarists. Regular water changes, strong filtration, and stable water parameters are essential for their well-being.