Catfish | The Canadian Encyclopedia

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Catfish

Catfish, small to large, primarily freshwater fishes of order Siluriformes (about 2000 species worldwide).
Catfish
(artwork by Claire Tremblay)

Catfish, small to large, primarily freshwater fishes of order Siluriformes (about 2000 species worldwide). In southern Canada, 10 species of genera Ictalurus, Noturus and Pylodictis of the N American family Ictaluridae (about 45 species in all) are known.

Description

The catfish are characterized by having a scaleless body, several pairs of barbels (elongate, fleshy projections around the mouth region), adipose (fatty) dorsal fin in front of the tail, and dorsal and pectoral fin spines that can inflict painful wounds. In some smaller madtoms, the spines have a groove and venom sac. The barbels and much of the skin are covered with taste buds for locating food at night, when catfish are most active. Catfish eat aquatic insects, molluscs, crustaceans, plant material, and other fishes.

Reproduction

Ictalurid catfish provide parental care, excavating a nest and guarding eggs and young. The reproductive pair engages in a head-to-tail clasping behaviour before deposition of eggs.

Fishery

Most catfish are not used by humans, but the brown bullhead and the channel catfish are fished for sport and commercially in Canada.

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