At 300 kg and nearly 4 meters long, meet the colossal river giant that made history
That disk belonged to a giant freshwater stingray. Researchers from the Wonders of the Mekong project arrived with certified scales and the numbers rewrote the record books. The ray weighed 300 kilograms and stretched 3.98 meters from snout to tail, establishing it as the largest freshwater fish ever officially documented. The event transformed a routine fishing day on one of the world’s most heavily utilized waterways into a significant scientific moment.
Guinness World Recordshas now confirmed the specimen, scientifically known as Urogymnus polylepis, as the heaviest freshwater fish on record. It surpasses the previous benchmark of 293 kilograms held by a Mekong giant catfish caught in Thailand in 2005. That earlier record had stood unchallenged for nearly two decades.
A Giant Measured and Returned
The catch occurred along a stretch of the Mekong River in northern Cambodia. After local fishers secured the massive animal on a reinforced tarp along the riverbank, researchers connected to the project, which receives support from the University of Nevada, Reno, moved in to examine the catch. They carefully documented the stingray’s full dimensions, which included a disc width of 2.2 meters in addition to its nearly four meter total length. The weight of 300 kilograms was verified on site using certified scales.
The tag data holds particular value because this species is notoriously difficult to study. Giant freshwater stingrays spend the vast majority of their lives pressed against muddy channels that are inaccessible to standard survey methods. By tracking the animal’s movements, scientists hope to gather the first detailed map of how these giants use the river. This includes determining whether they migrate long distances between deep pools or remain territorial within a specific refuge.
An Elusive Bottom Dweller at Risk
The giant freshwater stingray is among the least understood large fish species in Southeast Asia. Its cryptic behavior and the challenging environment of deep, silty rivers keep it largely hidden from researchers. Confirmed encounters with individuals exceeding 300 kilograms are exceedingly rare. Each documented specimen provides valuable data points for biologists trying to understand life history and population status.Rather than harvesting the animal, the scientific team opted for a conservation approach. They fitted the stingray with an acoustic tracking tag and guided it back into the murky current. The entire process was designed to minimize stress and allow the creature to resume its life on the river bottom.
Two Species Share the Title
The Guinness World Records entry notes that the title is jointly held by the giant freshwater stingray and the Mekong giant catfish. This shared status reflects comparable maximum weights achieved by both, with the stingray holding a slight edge in the most recent verified individual. The entry clarifies that while the South American arapaima can grow longer at up to 4.5 meters, it typically weighs closer to 200 kilograms and does not challenge for the weight record.
The record also provides historical context. The Chinese paddlefish once grew to confirmed weights of 300 kilograms. In January 2020, authorities declared that species extinct, estimating it died out between 2005 and 2010 due to overfishing and habitat loss.
The record distinguishes between fish that live exclusively in freshwater and those that migrate to the sea. Certain sturgeon species can grow much larger but are anadromous. The 300 kilogram stingray remains the definitive giant of the riverine world, verified by both a scale and a tracking tag that continues to transmit from the depths of the Mekong.
The "colossal river giant" you’re referring to is the Giant Freshwater Stingray (Urogymnus polylepis), a creature that looks more like a prehistoric relic than a modern fish.
In June 2022, a specimen caught in the Mekong River in Cambodia officially became the world’s largest recorded freshwater fish, dethroning the long-reigning Mekong Giant Catfish.
The Record-Breaking Stats
This female stingray, nicknamed "Boramy" (which means "full moon" in the Khmer language), stunned scientists and locals alike:
Weight:
$300\text{ kg}$ (roughly $661\text{ lbs}$). Length: Just under
$4\text{ meters}$ ( $13\text{ feet}$) from snout to tail. Width: Roughly
$2.2\text{ meters}$ ( $7\text{ feet}$) across.
Why This Discovery Matters
A Win for Conservation: The Mekong River is under immense pressure from dam construction, overfishing, and pollution.
Finding a healthy, massive specimen like Boramy suggests that the deep pools of the river can still support high levels of biodiversity. Scientific Tagging: Before being released back into the wild, scientists fitted the ray with an acoustic transmitter. This allowed researchers to track her movements and learn more about the behavior of this elusive species, which spends most of its time buried in the river's muddy floor.
Community Effort: The discovery was a collaboration between the Wonders of the Mekong project and local fishers, who called researchers after realizing they had caught something historic rather than keeping it for food.
The "Stinger"
Despite their size, these giants are generally not aggressive. However, they are equipped with a serrated, venom-coated spine at the base of their tail that can reach nearly 40 cm in length—easily capable of piercing bone.
It’s incredible to think that a creature the size of a small car was gliding through the river unnoticed until just a few years ago. Do you enjoy following these kinds of wildlife "megafauna" discoveries?
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