What is Catfish?
{{Taxobox | name = Catfish | fossil_range = <br/>[[Upper Cretaceous]] – Recent | image = Eel-tail catfish.jpg | image_caption = Eel-tail catfish | image_width = 240px | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]] | classis = [[Actinopterygii]] | superordo = [[Ostariophysi]] | type_species = [[Wels catfish|''Silurus glanis'']] | type_species_authority = [[Linnaeus]], 1758 | ordo = '''Siluriformes''' }} '''Catfish''' are an [[Order (biology)|order]] of [[teleost]] [[fish]], the '''Siluriformes'''. There are about 40 [[Family (biology)|families]] in the order. They are called catfish because their [[barbel]]s look like the [[whisker]]s of a [[cat]]. They are very diverse. The heaviest is the [[Mekong giant catfish]], up to 350&nbsp;kg (770&nbsp;lb). The longest is the [[wels catfish]], up to 4&nbsp;m (13&nbsp;ft). There are also [[detrivore]]s in the group. There are some tiny [[parasite|parasitic]] catfish called [[candiru]]. Some catfish are grown for food, in [[fish farm]]s. Some catfish can be kept in [[aquarium|aquaria]]. == Special lifestyles == Most catfish do not harm people, but some of them can cause problems. It is said that the candiru can enter the human [[urethra]], where they stay as [[parasites]]. In normal life they are parasites on fish [[gill]]s. The Malapteruridae are a family of [[electric fish|electric catfish]]. Several species of the family can produce an [[electric shock]] of up to 350 [[volt]]s using electroplaques of an [[electric organ]].<ref>[http://animaldiversity.org/site/accounts/information/Malapterurus_electricus.html Ng, Heok Hee 2000. ''Malapterurus electricus''. Animal Diversity Web]</ref> == Types of catfish == === Wels catfish === The [[wels catfish]] (''Silurus glanis'') is a large catfish. === ''Corydoras'' === ''[[Corydoras]]'' is a genus of popular aquarium fishes. === Widemouth blindcat === The [[widemouth blindcat]] (''Satan eurystomus'') is another species of catfish. === Madtoms === [[Madtom|Madtoms]] are catfish comprising the genus ''Noturus''. =