Vampire Pleco

All Catfish different species can be found in the order Siluriformes, and that contains not less than 37 different families. The family cat was actually the 37th added to the order very recently - in June 2005. Almost all species are catfish various inhabitants of freshwater, but in the family and Plotosidae Ariidae you find catfish that does not live in freshwater. Catfish are adapted to a wide range of different ecological niches, you can find species of small catfish and enormous as Wells catfish that can reach up to 5 meters (16 ft) long and the giant catfish Mekong, which can weigh nearly 300 kg (661 pounds). These two species are naturally big catfish is not very appropriate for aquarium fish, but there is a wide range of other species you can keep even in a medium sized aquarium. The example Plecos are very popular in aquariums and many species can be kept even by beginner aquarists. Two of the most popular among aquarists Plecos Beginners are sucking Catfish (Hypostomus plecostomus) and the Bristlenose Catfish (Ancistrus dolichopterus).

One of the most distinctive anatomical features of the catfish is the prominent dumbbells near the mouth. A bar is long, tactile organ, which is very useful for fish that live in the murky waters where visibility is limited. Catfish use their weights while hunting and maneuvering in dark environments, like a cat uses its whiskers. The weights of catfish have taste buds, however, and catfish can "taste" of its environment. You can find dumbbells on many other fish in addition to catfish, including mullet, a carp and a few sharks.

In addition to barbells, catfish various share another anatomical feature significant - they are less scale. Catfish of all families but are also equipped with a radius of hollow tip that can excrete a potent protein to frighten or injure the potential threats. Some species may even harm humans and must be handled with care. You should be especially cautious when dealing with specimens of the catfish Heteropneustes kind (in the Plotosidae family), because a bite of these species may require hospital treatment. There is a family of catfish, where species are not hollow-ray peak, the Malapteruridae family. These species can not produce any protein tingling, and instead protect themselves by sending a powerful electric shock. With this capability, the species found in the family are called Malapteruridae catfish electric.

Another example of a catfish fascinating is the Candiru (Vandellia cirrhosa). This cat is popularly called the Vampire Fish "Brazil", because it will bind to the gills of other fish and drink their blood. This fish is not very popular in South America because it sometimes tries to join the man swimming, when attracted by blood or urinary excretion. The body of this catfish is almost transparent, making the fish very difficult to detect in the water. Fish is also very low, only 2.5 to 6 centimeters (1.0 to 2.4 inches) in length.