Siluriformes
Sign in to saveCatfish are a diverse group of ray-finned fish of the order Siluriformes (historically Nematognathi). Catfish are named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, though not all catfish have prominent barbels. All Siluriformes lack scales, instead possessing either smooth skin or armour-plated bodies. This order of fish are defined by features of the skull (such as maxillae modified into the barbels' bases) and swimbladder. 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 t
AI overview
Siluriformes is the scientific order that includes catfish, a highly diverse group of ray-finned fish named for their distinctive whisker-like barbels and characterized by the absence of scales on their bodies. These fish are defined by specific features of their skulls and swimbladders, and they vary dramatically in size and behavior, ranging from enormous species like the Mekong giant catfish to much smaller varieties found around the world.
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Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- taxon
- Parent taxon
- Actinopteri
- Named after
- whiskers
- Image
- Channelcat.jpg
Show 8 more facts
- P105
- order
- P944
Article
21 sectionsContents
- Description
- Sensory organs
- Fin spines and toxins
- Internal anatomy
- Sexual characters
- Size
- Classification
- Phylogeny
- Evolution
- Fossil taxa
- Distribution and habitat
- Behavior
- Communication
- Relation to humans
- Food
- Mythology
- In aquaria
- As invasive species
- See also
- References
- External links
Catfish are a diverse group of ray-finned fish of the order Siluriformes (historically Nematognathi). Catfish are named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, though not all catfish have prominent barbels. All Siluriformes lack scales, instead possessing either smooth skin or armour-plated bodies. This order of fish are defined by features of the skull (such as maxillae modified into the barbels' bases) and swimbladder. 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 detritivorous and scavenging bottom feeders, down to the tiny ectoparasitic species known as the candiru.
In the Southern United States, catfish may be known by a variety of slang names, such as "mud cat", "polliwogs", or "chuckleheads". Such names are regional and unstandardized. For instance, "chucklehead" in one region may refer to a bullhead catfish but indicate blue catfish elsewhere.