Facts, Information, Scientific Name of Catfish
Let us learn about a fish with functional whiskers like Cat, known as Catfish.
- Common name- Catfish, Mudcat, Polliwogs, Chuckleheads, etc.
- Scientific name- Suliformes.
- Size- 5.2 feet- 8.2 feet.
Appearance, Habitat and functional body parts of Catfish.
This Cylindrical, flat-body fish is found in the Sea waters of Tropical areas of South America, Africa, Asia, Europe, North America,etc.
It is found in the fresh waters of Australia and Madagascar.
One can identify Catfish, by spotting a slimy, mucus covering body, which lacks scales. Some species of Catfish have ‘Scutes’, which is likea hard plate that covers their body.
Catfish consists of a flat head that can dig and a mouth which gulps the food by suction.
Barbels are another distinctive feature of a Catfish. Barbels (whiskers) present on each side of the mouth possess sensory functions. The Sense of Smell and Touch is detected by the Barbels of the Catfish, which can find the location of the food. Catfish prey on small fishes, Frogs, Worms, Snails, and Insects.
With the presence of functional Barbels, Catfish have a good sense of hearing as well as Sound production. These fishes produce a drumming sound with the help of their Muscles, Air Bladder (Lungs of Fish), and Fins. Sound is produced to express Aggression during a Fight, or as an Alarm call for Danger.
There are spiny rays present on Fins that consists of Stings, in some species for defence.
Breeding, Parental care & Life span of a Catfish.
The breeding season of a Catfish is between the beginning of Summer and the end of Spring. Females lay eggs between rocks or in dense vegetation.
Eggs hatch in 5-10 days. Paternal Care is seen in Catfish, which means the male parent looks after the newly hatched fish.
Catfish are the victims of Snakes, Alligators, Otters, and Birds of prey like kites, etc., and are also consumed by Humans. Otherwise. Catfish live up to 20 years.
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