Can you imagine a catfish bigger than a boy?
Can
you
imagine
a
catfish
bigger
than
a
boy
?
There are more than 1,000 kinds of catfish; 28 species are found in the United States' lakes and rivers.
There
are
more
than
1,000
kinds
of
catfish
;
28
species
are
found
in
the
United
States
'
lakes
and
rivers
.
This huge family has some mighty strange members.
This
huge
family
has
some
mighty
strange
members
.
Let's meet a few.
Let
's
meet
a
few
.
Walking catfish.
Walking
catfish
.
Nature's feisty little catfish, found in southern Florida, has an extra lung for breathing on dry land.
Nature
's
feisty
little
catfish
,
found
in
southern
Florida
,
has
an
extra
lung
for
breathing
on
dry
land
.
When its swimming hole dries up, the walking catfish waddles on stiff forward fins in search of another lake or stream.
When
its
swimming
hole
dries
up
,
the
walking
catfish
waddles
on
stiff
forward
fins
in
search
of
another
lake
or
stream
.
If an enemy attacks, the fish flares its top and front fins and leaps at the attacker to scare it off.
If
an
enemy
attacks
,
the
fish
flares
its
top
and
front
fins
and
leaps
at
the
attacker
to
scare
it
off
.
Armored catfish.
Armored
catfish
.
This catfish has heavy, bony plates protecting its body.
This
catfish
has
heavy
,
bony
plates
protecting
its
body
.
The shell makes the fish difficult to bone.
The
shell
makes
the
fish
difficult
to
bone
.
To cook it, throw the fish whole into a fire.
To
cook
it
,
throw
the
fish
whole
into
a
fire
.
When it is done, break it open for eating.
When
it
is
done
,
break
it
open
for
eating
.
Some armored catfish are found in Florida, but the 100 pounders live in South America.
Some
armored
catfish
are
found
in
Florida
,
but
the
100
pounders
live
in
South
America
.
Rounding out the family of strange catfish are talking catfish, which make growing sound when you pull them from the water; climbing catfish, which move quickly up shore brush in search of food; electric catfish, which can deliver a mild shock; and blind catfish, which settle in the inky blackness of underwater caves.
Rounding
out
the
family
of
strange
catfish
are
talking
catfish
,
which
make
growing
sound
when
you
pull
them
from
the
water
;
climbing
catfish
,
which
move
quickly
up
shore
brush
in
search
of
food
;
electric
catfish
,
which
can
deliver
a
mild
shock
;
and
blind
catfish
,
which
settle
in
the
inky
blackness
of
underwater
caves
.
Blind catfish find food through taste buds in their eight whiskers.
Blind
catfish
find
food
through
taste
buds
in
their
eight
whiskers
.
Most catfish have four whiskers on the upper jaw and four on the lower jaw.
Most
catfish
have
four
whiskers
on
the
upper
jaw
and
four
on
the
lower
jaw
.
Sensory holes on these whiskers help the fish smell and taste food even in the muddiest of water.
Sensory
holes
on
these
whiskers
help
the
fish
smell
and
taste
food
even
in
the
muddiest
of
water
.
The United States does not have catfish anywhere near the size of those in South America.
The
United
States
does
not
have
catfish
anywhere
near
the
size
of
those
in
South
America
.
But in some large U.S. rivers, blue and flathead catties do top 100 pounds.
But
in
some
large
U.S.
rivers
,
blue
and
flathead
catties
do
top
100
pounds
.
Most of the catfish you are likely to catch will be much smaller, about frying pan size.
Most
of
the
catfish
you
are
likely
to
catch
will
be
much
smaller
,
about
frying
pan
size
.
When you catch one, remember that the top fins and the forward fins have poison glands at their bases.
When
you
catch
one
,
remember
that
the
top
fins
and
the
forward
fins
have
poison
glands
at
their
bases
.
They can give you painful wounds, (...)
They
can
give
you
painful
wounds
,
(
...
)
Can you imagine a catfish bigger than a boy? There are more than 1,000 kinds of catfish; 28 species are found in the United States' lakes and rivers. This huge family has some mighty strange members. Let's meet a few.  Walking catfish. Nature's feisty little catfish, found in southern Florida, has an extra lung for breathing on dry land. When its swimming hole dries up, the walking catfish waddles on stiff forward fins in search of another lake or stream. If an enemy attacks, the fish flares its top and front fins and leaps at the attacker to scare it off.  Armored catfish. This catfish has heavy, bony plates protecting its body. The shell makes the fish difficult to bone. To cook it, throw the fish whole into a fire. When it is done, break it open for eating. Some armored catfish are found in Florida, but the 100 pounders live in South America.  Rounding out the family of strange catfish are talking catfish, which make growing sound when you pull them from the water; climbing catfish, which move quickly up shore brush in search of food; electric catfish, which can deliver a mild shock; and blind catfish, which settle in the inky blackness of underwater caves. Blind catfish find food through taste buds in their eight whiskers.  Most catfish have four whiskers on the upper jaw and four on the lower jaw. Sensory holes on these whiskers help the fish smell and taste food even in the muddiest of water. The United States does not have catfish anywhere near the size of those in South America. But in some large U.S. rivers, blue and flathead catties do top 100 pounds.  Most of the catfish you are likely to catch will be much smaller, about frying pan size. When you catch one, remember that the top fins and the forward fins have poison glands at their bases. They can give you painful wounds, (...)