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Life in the Forest

Life in the River

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Hoplo Catfish

Catfish

There are approximately 500 species of catfish in the Amazon basin. Catfish are scavengers which live near the bottom of rivers and streams – preferably in shallow water. They are called catfish because of the feelers which extend from their jaws and resemble a cat's whiskers. There are many varieties of catfish in the Amazon. One of the smallest is the candiru, measuring 2.5 cm (1 inch) long. The biggest catfish in the Amazon is the Piraφba which is said sometimes to reach 2 m (6.5 ft) and weigh 150 kg (330 lb). Several species of Amazon catfish are bred for the aquarium trade.

Catfish are usually harmless, although some species have sharp spines on their dorsal and pectoral fins which can inflict wounds. The don't have scales like other fish, but some Amazon species have armoured plates to protect them from predators. The Piraφba species of catfish is particularly feared. Normally it feeds on other fish, water birds, and even small mammals. It has been reputed to occasionally to grab hold of children's arms or legs while swimming, and then drag them beneath the water's surface. Some local stories are particularly gruesome, claiming that the fish purposely traps the body in under rocks or submerged trees and waits for it to deterioriate. However, the catfish that visitors are most likely to encounter in the Amazon are the tiny ones that can frequently be seen feeding near submerged trees and floating docks (particularly around Aria· Towers), or the slightly bigger varieties which appear on the dinner plate.