It is generally reported as being found in large and medium rivers in South Asia,[3] and is likely synonymous with B.

[1][4][5] Prior to 2021, the standard was to recognize two species of Bagarius from the Indian Subcontinent: First B. bagarius, supposedly a small species (up to 20 cm or 7.9 in) first described in 1822 by Francis Buchanan-Hamilton based on a specimen from the Ganges River.

[1] The second is B. yarrelli, supposedly a very large species (up to 2 m or 6.6 ft) first described in 1839 by William Henry Sykes based on a specimen from the Mula-Mutha River.

[1][5] The larger type has been accused of several fatal attacks on humans in the Mahakali River that is Nepal's western border with India.

'Giant Baghair caught in Jamuna' Archived 2014-11-29 at the Wayback Machine in The Daily Star (Bangladesh), May 12, 2009]