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Catfish are small to large, primarily freshwater fishes of the order Siluriformes (about 2,000 species worldwide). In southern Canada, 10 species of the genera Ictalurus, Noturus and Pylodictis of the North 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), an 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 fish.
Reproduction
Ictalurid catfish provide parental care, excavating a nest and guarding eggs and young. The reproductive pair engages in head-to-tail clasping behaviour before egg deposition.
Fishery
Most catfish are not used by humans, but the brown bullhead and the channel catfish are fished for sport and commercially in Canada.
