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Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the three largest species alive, the Mekong giant catfish from Southeast Asia, the wels catfish of Eurasia, and the piraíba of South America, to detritivores (species that eat dead material on the bottom), and even to a tiny parasitic ...
- Actinopterygii
- Siluriformes, G. Cuvier, 1817
Nov 29, 2022 · Catfishing is when someone pretends to be someone else online to trick others. Learn how to spot a catfish, why people do it, and how to protect yourself and your kids from this deceptive practice.
- Natalie Neysa Alund
- Senior Reporter
Apr 11, 2024 · Learn about catfish, the fishes with long barbels around their mouth, in this article from Britannica. Find out how many species there are, where they live, what they eat, and how they reproduce.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
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May 22, 2022 · Catfish is a low-calorie, high-protein, and vitamin B12-rich fish that can be cooked in various ways. Learn about the health benefits of eating catfish, the differences between wild-caught and farm-raised, and how to choose the best products.
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- Blue Catfish. As the name suggests, blue catfish can have a light blue to dark blue coloring and appear almost black at times. Their bellies are white.
- Channel Catfish. Channel catfish are olive-brown to grey. Unlike the blue catfish, they do have dark spots, especially in smaller fish. Their bellies will be silvery-white.
- Flathead Catfish. Flathead catfish will have mottled black, brown, and pale yellow coloring. Their bellies are a light cream color. Reaching between 22 and 44 inches, they are most commonly 4 to 20 lbs (2 to 9 kg).
- Wels Catfish. Growing up to 16 feet (5 meters) long and weighing up to 660 pounds (299 kilograms), the wels catfish are the only catfish native to Europe, found in the Baltic, Black, and Caspian Seas.
Apr 4, 2023 · This fish comes in a diverse range of colors, shapes, and characteristics, but there are a few distinct traits that unite all species together. The most prominent physical characteristic is the pair of long barbels (the whiskers or feelers) along the upper jaw that act as sensory organs.
Learn about the Catfish, a well-known creature with whisker-like fleshy barbels around its mouth. Discover its diverse species, sizes, habitats, diets, and behaviors. Find out how humans interact with these fish as food sources, pets, and conservationists.
