Catfish is unique among salt and freshwater fishes. It is one of the few fishes without scales. In the Philippines, where they are abundant in rivers, ponds and lakes, catfish is cook and serve in several ways.
1.) Megalechis thoracata
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Megalechis thoracata is an armored species of catfish that can be found in the Andes and nearby areas such as the Orinoco and Amazon rivers. The male species is much larger than females.
2.) Flagtail Catfish (Dianema urostriatum)
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The Flagtail Catfish is a tropical freshwater catfish that originates in South America and can be found in the Amazon River basin in Brazil. It can grow up to 8.4 cm and is also known as Stripedtail Catfish.
3.) Candiru (Vandellia)
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Vandellia is a very unusual and the most well known genus of parasitic catfishes known for their alleged habit of entering the human urethra. There are 3 known species of Vandelia – V. beccarii, V. cirrhosa and V. sanguine. V. sanguinea can grow up to 5.3 cm while V. cirrhosa grows up to 17.0 cm.
4.) Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps
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The Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps is a unique armored catfish with a crest exists over the back of the skull. It is very popular in the aquarium due to its unique appearance and its ability to clean aquarium tanks.
5.) Royal Plec (Panaque nigrolineatus)
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The Royal Plec is an herbivorous freshwater catfish that can be found in South America. It is notable for being one of the few fish that digest wood. It is eaten as food in its native habitat but is also a popular aquarium fish. It can grow up to 43 cm long.
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It can be found in the Orinoco and Amazon rivers in South America. It is also known as Royal Pleco, or Royal Panaque.
6.) Spotted Talking Catfish (Agamyxis pectinifrons)
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The Spotted Talking Catfish is a popular aquarium fish. It has the ability to make sounds by grinding its pectoral fin bones against its shoulder bones. Spotted Talking Catfish has a lifespan of 17 years. It is also known as Spotted Raphael Catfish.
7.) Black Talking Catfish (Oxydoras niger)
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Black Talking Catfish is a well known aquarium fish species. This catfish grows rapidly and is light shy and should be provided with sheltered areas to hide. It originates in South America. It is also known as Mother of Snails Catfish, Ripsaw Catfish and Black Doradid.
8.) Neosho Madtorn (Noturus placidus)
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The Neosho Madtom is a small North American catfish is a threatened species that can attain a length of 8 cm and can only live for 3 years. They can be found in Illinois River. Its population declined due to habitat destruction.
9.) African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus)
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The large and eel-like African Catfish is an airbreathing species that is widely distributed throughout Africa and the Middle East. They thrive in freshwater lakes, rivers, swamps, as well as human-made places, such as oxidation ponds or even urban sewer systems. This nocturnal catfish can attain average lengths of 1 to 1.2 meters.
10.) Walking Catfish (Clarias batracus)
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One of the more unique species of catfish is the Walking Catfish. It is a freshwater airbreathing catfish that is widely distributed in Southeast Asia. It was so named for its unusual ability to ‘walk’ across dry land to find food or suitable environments by using its pectoral fins. This scaleless catfish can grow up to 30 cm.
11.) Twig Catfish (Farlowella acus)
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Twig Catfish is a peculiar-looking catfish whose name means pointed, needle or spine and can be found in Lake Valencia and the Torito River basin. It feeds on plants and roots. This peaceful and bottom-dweller fish is commonly exported for the aquarium. It can be kept in most freshwater community tanks as a single pet or as a group.
12.) Corydoras semiaquilus
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Corydoras semiaquilus is a tropical freshwater fish that originates in inland waters in South America. It can be found in the western Amazon River basin in Brazil and Peru. Its primary foods include benthic crustaceans, insects, plant matters and worms.
13.) Wels Catfish (Silurus glanis)
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The Wels Catfish is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world. It can attain lengths of up to 3 meters and can weigh over 150 kg. It is considered the longest catfish while the Mekong Giant Catfish is the largest. It can be found in most parts of Europe and near the Baltic Sea and Caspian Sea. Wels Catfish weighing 15 kg below are recommended for consumption but heavier are not. The eggs should not be eaten because it’s poisonous. It is also called Sheatfish.
See also13 Unique Salt and Freshwater CatfishWorld’s Most Colorful and Unique SquidsWaterworld Creatures with WingsAmazing Flying Sea Creatures25 Amazing and Bizarre Deep Sea CreaturesBizarre and Unique Marine MammalsWeird and Freak Creatures of the Deep Sea
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