What can catfish do?

- Breathing:

Catfish have a unique respiratory system that allows them to breathe air and water. Many have an accessory breathing organ known as a suprabranchial organ, which functions like a lung and enables them to extract oxygen directly from the atmosphere in low-oxygenated bodies of water.

- Feeding:

Some catfish species are omnivorous, feeding on worms, small fish, plants, insects, larvae, algae, and more. Their long barbels aid in finding food as they are very sensitive to chemical changes and pressure variations, even detecting subtle electrical currents emitted by potential prey. Notably, the Candiru species is famous for its habit of entering host organisms such as humans or larger fish through an orifice.

- Defense:

To deter predators, some catfish have sharp spines or venom in the tips of their dorsal fins and pectoral fins. These venomous catfish, such as species from the Pimelodidae and Doradidae families, have strong toxins in their fin spines capable of causing intense pain when poked.

- Communication:

Communication between catfish depends on species. Notably, many armored catfish (Loricariidae family) are capable of making various noises through specialized muscles to express aggression, mating behavior, territorial boundaries, etc.

- Sensing:

Catfish species are equipped with whiskers used as both sense organs and taste receptors. Their whiskers enhance their sense of hearing and enable them to locate nearby objects underwater effectively. Additionally, these sensory barbels play a crucial role in the mating process by detecting chemical substances produced by potential mates.

Catfish species exhibit these abilities in distinct ways based on variations in size, species-specific adaptation