CATFISH

These fish are named after cats because of the barbels ("whiskers") around their mouths. Catfish are members of the freshwater fish families constituting the suborder Nematognathi. They have scaleless skins, fleshy, rayless posterior fins, and sharp defensive spines in the shoulder and dorsal fins. They are able to use their swim bladder to produce sounds. Some species, such as the stone and tadpole catfishes and the madtom, can inflict stings.

The madtom species are mostly no more than 5 in. (12.7 cm) long. Danube catfish (wels, sheatfish) reach a length of 13 ft (4 m) and a weight of 400 lb (180 kg). Catfish are omnivorous scavenger feeders.

[ Cat-Haters ] [ World's Worst Cat Hater ] [ Site Map ] [ Feline Statistics ]