Sunday, January 12, 2014

Creature Feature #86: Catfish


 The Catfish are a diverse array of ray-finned fish spread throughout the world - whether naturally or by introduction. The name derives from his “whiskers” which are actually sensory barbels. These are used to forage along the beds of their freshwater habitats and to locate invertebrates or carrion, depending on the species. He does not have scales, but some species are armour plated. His gas bladder is reduced in size, and his head is large and bony, making him negatively bouyant. Introduced Catfish have made a mess of many freshwater habitats, earning him a ranking in the top 100 invasive species list.

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