A catfish looks something like a cat because it has one or more pairs of whiskerlike feelers by its mouth. These feelers, known as barbels, are sensory organs—they help the fish to taste and feel.

Where catfish live

There are about 2,500 species, or kinds, of catfish. They are found in the freshwater bodies of all of the major continents. A few live in temperate (mild) and tropical oceans. Bullheads and channel catfish are two types of catfish common to North America.

Physical features

Catfish range greatly in size. The largest is the Danube sheatfish, or wels. This catfish may be more than 15 feet (4.5 meters) long and weigh 660 pounds (300 kilograms). Some of the smaller catfish species are popular for aquariums because they barely measure 2 inches (5 centimeters) in length.

Catfish do not have scales. All catfish are either naked or have bony plates. Many catfish have poisonous spines on their back and sides for protection from enemies.

Behavior

Catfish tend to be most active at night. They are scavengers that feed on almost any kind of animal or vegetable matter.

A female catfish can lay thousands of eggs. Some kinds of catfish carry the eggs in their broad mouths to protect them. Some others build a nest for the eggs and guard them.

Catfish and humans

Many people eat catfish. While frying the fish is perhaps the most common way it is prepared, catfish can also be cooked in other ways. Many catfish are raised in controlled environments to keep the quality and supply of catfish high. Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, and Louisiana are leading producers of farm-raised catfish in the United States.

Catfish are also popular to catch. People fishing in rivers may try to land a channel catfish, which can weigh more than 50 pounds (23 kilograms). Kids dangling a simple stick and worm can catch smaller catfish.