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Catfish (or catfishes; order Siluriformes / s ɪ ˈ lj ʊər ɪ f ɔːr m iː z / or Nematognathi) are a diverse group of ray-finned fish.Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the three largest species alive, the Mekong giant catfish from Southeast Asia, the wels catfish of Eurasia, and the piraíba of South America, to ...
Hypostomus plecostomus, also known as the suckermouth catfish or common pleco, is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the armored catfish family (Loricariidae), named for the longitudinal rows of armor -like scutes that cover the upper parts of the head and body (the lower surface of head and abdomen is naked soft skin).
It is one of four species in the genus Ariopsis. [ 3 ] The common name, hardhead catfish, is derived from the presence of a hard, bony plate extending rearward toward the dorsal fin from a line between the catfish's eyes. [ 4 ] It is an elongated marine catfish that reaches up to 28 in (70 cm) in length and 12 lb (5.5 kg) in weight. [ 5 ]
The caudal fin rays number 55 to 67. The upper jaw projects beyond the lower jaw and the tooth pad on the upper jaw has a narrow, crescent-shaped extension on each side. The premaxillary band of teeth has lateral backward extensions. The skin of the stonecat is thick and is yellowish-brown in color. The sides of the head shade to yellow.
In Africa, this catfish has been reported as being second in size only to the vundu of the Zambesian waters, [3] although FishBase suggests the African sharptooth catfish surpasses that species in both maximum length and weight. [4] [5] C. gariepinus has an average adult length of 1–1.5 m (3 ft 3 in – 4 ft 11 in).
Amiurus pondersosus Bean, 1880[3] The blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) is a large species of North American catfish, reaching a length of 65 in (170 cm) and a weight of 143 lb (65 kg). [4] The continent ’s largest catfish, it can live to 20 years, with a typical fish being between 25–46 in (64–117 cm) and 30–70 lb (14–32 kg).
The North American catfish has acquired an association with American Southern folklore which exceeds its place as a mere food fish. The image of cane-pole fishing for catfish at a proverbial lazy stream has become a stand-by of southern Americana. In some areas, the bullhead is seen as a desirable quarry, for its fighting qualities exceed its size.
Loricariidae is the largest family of catfish (order Siluriformes), with over 90 genera and just over 680 species. [4] Loricariids originate from freshwater habitats of Costa Rica, Panama, and tropical and subtropical South America. These fish are noted for the bony plates covering their bodies and their suckermouths.