PICKENS COUNTY — Whether enjoyed as a delicacy, fished for sport or observed in a home aquarium, catfish are fascinating underwater creatures.
With the exception of Antarctica, catfish are present on all continents and are believed to comprise 3,000 unique species. Some catfish are inclined to inhabit freshwater ecosystems and can be found residing in rivers and streams. Others are content to call saltwater home. Catfish can be mere inches long or virtual giants, with the Mekong catfish in Asia reaching nearly nine feet in length and up to 646 pounds.
According to the outdoor experience resource American Expedition, one of the more popular North American catfish is the channel catfish. It is primarily fished as game and is sometimes known as the “Fork-Tailed Cat,” “Fiddler” or “Lady Cat.” The flathead catfish is another prominent North American species, as well as the blue catfish.
Catfish are easily recognized and distinguished from other fish due to some prominent characteristics. Catfish are named for their barbels around the mouth, which resemble cat’s whiskers. Catfish also have smooth, scaleless bodies and flat heads. Catfish are typically dull in color so they can blend into their surroundings, but there are some more brightly hued varieties.
Wild catfish are bottom feeders, and many are detrivores, or species that eat dead material on the bottom of bodies of water. However, catfish may eat aquatic insects, crayfish, mollusks, crustaceans, and other fish. Farm-raised catfish bred for food can be trained to eat food pellets on the water’s surface.
Barbels and other sensory organs help catfish locate food in the dark waters they call home. They also have taste sensors all over the surface of their bodies. These taste buds detect chemicals in the water and respond to touch.
Catfish may not say “meow,” but they can produce various sounds. According to SoftSchools.com, catfish are able to produce and detect sound due to a bony structure that connects their swim bladder and auditory system. By rubbing together body parts or inducing vibration of the swim bladder, catfish can produce different noises.
Their sweet-tasting, mild flesh makes catfish an important food source around the world. In the United States, fried catfish is especially popular in the southern states, particularly Mississippi. Catfish is also popular in parts of Asia and Africa.
Catfish can survive from eight to 20 years in the wild, depending on the species. Large catfish may not have many natural predators, but large fish, birds, reptiles, and mammals, including humans, may prey on catfish for food or sport.
Catfish is a diverse aquatic animal that is known to be a particularly popular game fish and even a delicacy in certain parts of the world.
