Which fish is widely recognized as the world's largest freshwater fish by weight?

The giant freshwater stingray is widely recognized as the world's largest freshwater fish by weight.

This species, Urogymnus polylepis, inhabits large rivers and estuaries in South and Southeast Asia. It has a broad, flattened body and a long tail bearing a venomous serrated spine. Some individuals can weigh several hundred kilograms, making them heavier than most other freshwater fish.

The record size is often discussed alongside the Mekong giant catfish and arapaima. Those fish can also become enormous, but the giant freshwater stingray’s exceptional body mass gives it the strongest claim to the freshwater weight record. Exact records vary because wild fish are difficult to capture and weigh accurately.

The species faces pressure from habitat alteration, fishing and river development. Its large size does not make it invulnerable: slow growth and late reproduction can make recovery from population losses difficult.