| All the different catfish species can be
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| | many other fishes in addition to the
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| found in the order Siluriformes; and
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| | catfishes, including goatfish, a few
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| order that contains no less than 37
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| | carps and some sharks.
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| different families. The 37th catfish
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| | In addition to barbells, the various
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| family was actually added to the order
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| | catfish species share another notable
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| very recently – June 2005. Almost
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| | anatomical feature – they are scale
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| all the different catfish species are
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| | less. Catfish from all families but one
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| freshwater dwellers, but in the family
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| | are also equipped with a hollow leading
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| Plotosidae and Ariidae you will find
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| | ray that can excrete a powerful protein
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| catfish species that do not live in
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| | to scare off or injure potential threats.
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| freshwater. Catfishes have adapted to a
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| | Some species can even harm humans and
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| wide range of different ecological niches
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| | must be handled very carefully. You
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| you can find small catfish species as
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| | should be especially cautious when
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| well as huge ones like the Wells Catfish
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| | dealing with catfish specimens belonging
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| that can grow up to 5 meters (16 feet)
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| | to the genus Heteropneustes (in the
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| long and the Giant Mekong Catfish that
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| | family Plotosidae), since a sting from
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| can weigh almost 300 kg (661 lbs). These
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| | one of these species can require hospital
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| two big catfish species are naturally not
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| | treatment. There is one catfish family
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| very suitable as aquarium fish, but there
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| | where the species have no hollow leading
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| is a vast array of other species that you
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| | ray, the family Malapteruridae. These
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| can keep even in a moderately sized
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| | species can not produce any stinging
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| aquarium. The Plecos are for instance
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| | protein, and will instead protect
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| very popular in aquariums and many
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| | themselves by sending out a very powerful
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| species can be kept even by inexperienced
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| | electric shock. Due to this capability,
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| aquarists. Two of the most popular Plecos
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| | the species found in the family
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| among novice aquarists are the
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| | Malapteruridae are called Electric
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| Suckermouth Catfish (Hypostomus
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| | catfishes.
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| plecostomus) and the Bristlenose Catfish
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| | Another example of a fascinating catfish
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| (Ancistrus dolichopterus).
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| | species is the Candiru (Vandellia
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| One of the most distinguishing anatomical
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| | cirrhosa). This catfish is popularly
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| characteristics of the catfishes is the
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| | referred to as the "Vampire Fish of
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| prominent barbells found near the mouth.
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| | Brazil" since it will attach itself to
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| A barbell is a long, tactile organ that
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| | the gills of other fishes and drink their
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| is very useful for fishes that live in
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| | blood. This fish is not very popular in
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| murky waters where the visibility is
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| | Southern America since it sometimes tries
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| limited. The catfish will use its
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| | to attach itself to swimming humans, when
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| barbells when hunting and manoeuvring in
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| | attracted to blood or urine excretion.
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| dark environments, just like a cat will
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| | The body of this catfish is almost
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| uses its whiskers. The barbells of a
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| | transparent, which makes the fish quite
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| catfish do however have taste buds and
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| | hard to spot in the water. The fish is
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| the catfish can therefore "taste" its
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| | also quite small, only 2.5-6 centimetres
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| environment. You can find barbells on
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| | (1.0-2.4 inches) in lenght.
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