<20 pt?>

FREQUENCY: Rare

FREQUENCY: Rare ([Temperate Freshwater Depths])
FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Temperate Freshwater Surface])

FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Tropical Freshwater Surface])
FREQUENCY: Rare ([Tropical Freshwater Depths])

NO. APPEARING: 1
ARMOR CLASS: 7
MOVE: // 18"
HIT DICE: 7 to 10
% IN LAIR: Nil
TREASURE TYPE: Nil
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 3-12
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Poison spines, swallow whole
SPECIAL DEFENSES: [SB]
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Animal-
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
SIZE: L (16' to 24' long)
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: VI | 650 + 12

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.
Specimens 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 suffocating each round. The victim must have a sharp edged or
pointed weapon in hand when swallowed in order to have any 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 HP 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 save vs. Poison is made.