Catfish

Catfish (order Cruciforms) are a very diverse group of bony fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers (though not prominent in all members of this order), catfish range in size and behavior from the heaviest, the Mekong giant catfish from Southeast Asia and the longest, the welts catfish of Eurasia, to deteriorates (species that eat dead material on the bottom), and even to a tiny parasitic species commonly called the Candice, Vandalism cirrus. There are arm-our-plated types and also naked types, neither having scales. Despite their common name, not all catfish have prominent barbels; what defines a fish as being in the order Silkworms are in fact certain features of the skull and gallbladder. Catfish are of considerable commercial importance; many of the larger species are farmed or fished for food. Many of the smaller species, particularly the genus Corporals, are important in the aquarium hobby.