CATFISH (so called from the purring sound when the fish is taken from the water). One of a group of physostomons (soft-rayed) fishes of both salt and fresh waters, comprising the order Nentatognathi and the family Silurithe and its allies. fishes of this order," writes Dr. I). S. Jordan, "agree in having the maxillary bone imperfectly developed, and forming- the liaFds of a long, fleshy feeler or barbel [and . . . the presence, in most cases, of additional pairs of barbels about the mouth, near the tip of the upper or the lower jaw, or both; the ab sence of scales and the presence in many species. especially those found in tropical waters, of bony plates. These sometimes form a more or less perfect coat of mail on the sides of the body; at other times they form a shield on the top and back of the head. Another feature is the development, in most cases, of the first ray in the dorsal and pectoral tins as a strong, stiff, sharp, serrated spine which forms an effective weapon of defense. The spines of the pectoral fin, are strongest, and they are usually 'set'— that is, firmly erected—whenever the fish is caught or attacked. These spines are a source of much annoyance to fishermen, and there are few persons . . . in the Eastern States who have not had some painful experience with the 'horns' of a catfish." The wounds made by these spines often heal with difficulty, owing to the jagged nature of the cut and to the slime intro duced: in one genus (Noturns), however, a poison-gland is connected with the pectoral spine. They use the spine in ugly fights among themselves. The catfishes inhabit the fresh wa ters and shallow coastal waters of the warmer parts of America. Africa, and the Orient, hut are represented by only a single European spe cies, the typical silurus of the Latins, and the sheatfish of English writers. (See Fist") They vary from two inches to a dozen feet or more in length, and may exceed 200 pounds in weight. Most of them are good food, and everywhere enter into the diet of the people. In habits they are comparatively sluggish, re main close to the bottom, and are carnivorous and voracious. eating eggs and fry of aquatic animals, and seizing such fishes, amphibians. and birds as they can overcome. Few are swift swimmers, but they lurk in wait for prey, being almost invisible by reason of their dull, dark colors, and making a quick rush; consequently, the larger ones are among the most destructive enemies of aquatic life.
The North American catfishes have the skin wholly naked, and are familiarly represented by the horned pout. (See liCLI.HEAD. ) The same genus (Amiurus) contains several other species often termed mud-cats. The stone-eats belong to the genus Noturus, are small. com paratively slender. dark-hued. and inflict poisoned wounds. _Another genus. the channel-cats (1c
talurus), dwell in running streams and lakes, and include many large forms. the fork-tailed catfish of the Great Lakes i/ctaiurus hteustris) sometimes weighing Inn pound:: while the 'white' ehannel-cat Iletalurus ponderosas) of the Mis sissippi River Valley may grow to pounds, and become the largest of our fresh-water fishes except the California sturgeon. An illustrated monograph of the fresh-water species. by Dr. D. S. Jordan, will he found in Bulletin :Vo.
(IS77) of the United Stales National Mu seum at Washington. The sea-catfish are closely allied to the channel-eats, and two species are common along the Atlantic coast, both 2 to 5 feet long, and blue above with silvery bellies; but more than 100 species of this marine group, which haunt sandy bottoms near ,bore and furnish poor food, are seattered through the tropics, especially in the East Indies.
n u. South American fresh waters abound in eat fishes of the genus l'imelodus and its al lies, the largest species of which is the leopard cat, or snravi (Pimelodus frati), from rivers of Argentina and Uruguay, which is I; to 7 feet long, and yellow, spotted with black. Another characteristic South American group is that of the mailed eats, of the genus ('allidithys, in which the body is almost entirely covered by four rows of large, hard, narrow, scaly plate:, two rows on each side, and the head is well cov ered with bony plates. They are said to be able to make their way over land from a pool which may be drying up to another some distance away; sometimes they bury themselves in the mud of wet meadows. They build their nests near the margin of the water, at the beginning of the rainy season, both sexes guarding them until the eggs are hatched. The genera Doras, Loriearia, and Arges are allied groups of many species. Africa. abounds in fishes of this family, of which the best known is the bayad (q.v.) of the Nile. A ditieKent Nile catfish 11/a/apternrus eiectricus) has the power of de livering an effective electric shock. (See ELEC TRIC FISHES.) Many other species. some of large size, having the general characteristics outlined above, haunt the. sluggish rivers and estuaries of India, Siam, China, and the larger islands thence to Australia, with varying im portanee as food. Among these is notable the eel-like genus Clarias, 'eel-pouts,' about thirty species of which are iwiowm, some reaching C. feet in length. The catfishes are known as fos sils well back into the Tertiary.
The name is applied to various fishes of other families; as, in England, to the wolf-fish (Anar rhichas In pus). the cusk, and one or more small sharks. In Australasia the star-gazers (kathe tostoma) are called catfish, and elsewhere the chimeras are called 'sea-eats.'