| Giant Catfish | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| Naming | |||
| Binomen | Likely belonging to Order Siluriformes | ||
| Morphology | |||
| Body type | Piscian | ||
| Average length | Varies by specimen | ||
| Average weight | Varies by specimen | ||
| Intelligence | |||
| Sapience | Non-sapient | ||
| Aggressivity | Very high | ||
| Ecology | |||
| Place of origin | Prime Material Plane | ||
| Habitat | Large freshwater rivers and lakes in warm-temperate to tropical regions | ||
| Diet | Omnivorous | ||
| Locomotion | Bipedal | ||
| Subspecies | Various species of catfish | ||
| Related species | Stalking Catfish | ||
| Status | Endangered (listed as "rare" in-game) | ||
| Behind the Scenes | |||
| Universe | Dungeons & Dragons | ||
| Created by | Gary Gygax | ||
Giant Catfish are large species of poisonous catfish that inhabit the numerous warm-temperate to tropical freshwaters of the Prime Material Plane.
Monster Manual descriptions[]
2nd Edition[]
A huge catfish occasionally survives to grow even larger and become a giant of its kind. Catfish of all sorts inhabit fresh waters in warm-temperate to tropical climes. Giant catfish are found only in very large rivers or in lakes fed or emptied by them. They are principally bottom-feeding scavengers, although they are sufficiently aggressive to attack any creature recognized as "food" and of a size small enough to swallow. Specimen of 7 hit dice size can swallow a gnome or halfling, those of 8 hit dice size a dwarf, those of 9 hit dice size a small human or elf, and those of 10 hit dice size a large human whole. Being swallowed inflicts normal damage and confines the victim within the fish. There, the victim will suffer 1 point of damage per round from digestive fluids and has a 5% chance of escaping.
Attacks and damage inflicted while inside a catfish are handled normally, and, if and when this internal damage equals 50% of the total hit points of the fish, the victim has succeeded in cutting/stabbing his or her way out. Attacks which pierce the catfish have a 20% chance of inflicting like damage on a previously swallowed victim.
In addition to its normal attack (and swallowing), a giant catfish has many spiny, tentacle-like feelers around the corners of its mouth. These feelers, or "whiskers," secrete a strong poison. Besides biting a victim, the creature will lash its head from side to side, effectively attacking up to 2 other opponents with its poisonous feelers. A creature so hit will take 2-8 points of poison damage or 1-4 points if a successful saving throw vs. poison is made.