Class Osteichthyes:

 

Siluriformes Order: Includes Catfish.

3000 species of catfish can be found everyone in the world except for Antarctica.

They are freshwater fish, but some adapt to salt waters and caves. [49]

 

Did you know…?

While the smallest species of catfish, called banjo catfish, is only 0.39 inches long, the largest species, Mekong catfish, can reach nearly 9 feet in length and 646 pounds in weight, and usually live between 8 and 20 years.

The name "catfish" was given to this species due to their cat-like whiskers. [49] 

 

An average adult measures 12 to 24 inches (31 to 61 cm) and weighs two to seven pounds (1 to 3 kg); these can live up to 25 years. 

Though the diet of catfish consits of a wide array of organisms, larvae, crayfish, mollusks, small fish and clams, snails, worms and seeds are the main foods on their menu. 

In fact, since catfish mainly feed at night, they use their whiskers to identify food in the deep, dark water. [34]