7 photos - 4 species
Introduction
There are 11 to 12 genera and over 100 species.
Most catfish species live in fresh water.
Only two families contain marine species.
Juveniles live in dense schools on sand and sea grass,
whereas adults are nocturnal loners.
They grow to between 8 cm and three metres in length, depending on the species.
Pangasianodon hypophthalmus
Iridescent shark or Iridescent shark catfish
Shark catfish have a scaleless, elongated, laterally flattened body.
Most species are medium-sized to large fish that reach body lengths of around half a metre
to just over a metre.
Luxembourg ( aquarium )
Paraplotosus albilabris
Cobbler, White-lipped catfish, White-lipped catfih eel,
White-lipped eel catfish
Maximum size: 40 - 135 cm
Depth: 1 - 12 m
Light gray or yellowish-brown or almost blackish, sometimes with pronounced dark marbling,
light belly and a light underside of the head, as well as brown to blackish fins,
which are often darker than the body.
Presumably nocturnal.
Found on sandy bottoms under rocky outcrops or near coral blocks.
Live individually or in small groups.
Diet: Crustaceans and shell snails.
There are spines on the front fins with a very strong poison,
which can be fatal under certain circumstances.
Bangka island North Sulawesi
Plotosus lineatus
Striped eel catfish
Maximum length: 32 cm
Depth: 1 - 30 metres
These catfish should not be handled carelessly,
as their pectoral and dorsal fin spines
are very venomous and have strong barbs on both sides,
making them difficult to remove from wounds.
Stings are extremely painful and can even be fatal.
Photos 1 - 2: Lembeh Strait North Sulawesi
Photo 3: Bangka island North Sulawesi
Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps
Leopard pleco
Maximum length: 50 cm
Its body is covered with 28 to 30 bony scutes arranged in rows.
The colour is brown with numerous black spots,
smaller on the head and arranged in rows on the fins.
Its very large dorsal fin has a leading spiny ray and 12 to 13 soft rays.
On the anal fin it has four soft rays after the single spiny ray.
Distribution: middle and lower Amazon basin.
Omnivore.
Oberhausen Germany ( aquarium )