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| Moonisup |
quote:
jb wrote:
Rik was my first real friend on the boards!!!
that's very nice of you to say! |
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| voodoopug |
quote:
jb wrote:
Pug will get a nice piece of Cod on his cape!!!
Taxonomy
The walking catfish was formally described in 1758 as Silurus batrachus in Carolus Linnaeus' 10th edition of Systema Naturae. Johannes Scopoli established the genus Clarias in 1777. Clarias is derived from Latin, meaning "shining". Synonyms of Clarias batrachus include Macropteronotus fuscus Lacepède 1803, Macropteronotus jagur Hamilton 1822, Clarias assamensis Day 1877, and Clarias punctatus Valenciennes 1840. Members of the family Clariidae are collectively known as "air-breathing" catfishes although they are not the only catfish family capable of breathing atmospheric air.
Common Names
Walking catfish is the most common English name for this species. The Thai name Pla duk dam translates to "dull colored wriggling-fish". Other English language common names include clarias catfish, freshwater catfish, thai hito (Thai), and Thailand catfish. alimudan (Visayan), hito (Tagalog), hitong batukan (Tagalog), ikan keling (Malay), ito (Kapampangan), kawatsi (Kuyunon), keli (Malay), klarievyi som (Russian), konnamonni (Finnish), leleh (Javanese), magur (Bengali), nga-khoo (Burmese), paltat (Ilokano), pla duk nam jued (Thai), trey andaing roueng (Khmer), and wanderwels (German) are common names used in countries other than the U.S.
Geographical Distribution
The walking catfish is a widely distributed species, known from Pakistan, eastern India, Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Bangladesh, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines. To what extent this distribution comprises the native range of the walking catfish is open to conjecture. Valued in aquaculture by some Southeast Asian peoples, it seems likely that human activities are responsible for the presence of the species in some of the more disjunct portions of its current range. In the United States, the history of the non-native population established in southern Florida during the early 1960's is well documented. The spread of the walking catfish from one or perhaps two points of introduction encompassed 20 counties in approximately 10 years; effectively the entire southern peninsula of Florida.
Habitat
Walking catfishes are found in a wide variety of habitats including lakes and rivers but are best known for their ability to thrive where many fishes cannot. Warm, stagnant, often hypoxic waters such as muddy ponds, canals, ditches, swamps and flooded prairies are common habitat for this fish. Except for occasional forays to the surface for gulps of atmospheric air, this species spends most of its time on or near the substrate. Walking catfish are known to inhabit brackish waters and individuals from non-native populations in South Florida have been captured in Palm Beach County stretches of the intracoastal waterway.
Biology
· Distinctive Features
Walking catfish are typically a uniform shade of gray or gray-brown with many minute white spots laterally. The head is flat and broad and the body tapers to the tail in a manner that calls to mind the shape of a slender tadpole. The mouth is broad, although the gape is not great. The lips are fleshy, the upper more so than the lower. The walking catfish possesses very small eyes, a lengthy dorsal and anal fin that each terminate in a lobe near but free from the caudal fin, and pectoral fins with rigid spine-like elements, one each at the fore. It is through the use of these stiff pectoral "spines" accompanied by a back and forth flexion of the body that walking catfish accomplish their ungainly but effective terrestrial locomotion. The walking catfish may be easily distinguished from many of the North American Ictalurid catfishes in that the walking catfish lacks an adipose fin.
An internal feature of the walking catfish that is of considerable note with regard to its ability to traverse short stretches of land is the suprabranchial arborescent organ. An extension of the apparatus that supports the fish's gill filaments, this structure facilitates the uptake of atmospheric oxygen by providing support for a number of gill filaments that would otherwise collapse in the absence of the buoyancy of water. In essence, this accessory air-breathing organ functions much like a lung. The branching appearance of this organ, reminiscent of a small tree, is the basis for the name "arborescent" organ.
Coloration
Although most individuals are gray or gray-brown with small white spots as described above, an albino was once popular with aquarists and calico morphs are known. Aberrantly colored walking catfish, conspicuous to predators, are uncommon in the wild.
· Dentition
Numerous small pointed teeth occur in large bands on both the upper and lower jaw of the walking catfish. The arrangement of teeth is reported to vary somewhat in adults.
·Size, Age, and Growth
Reproductively mature at one year of age, this species is reported to reach a length of 61cm (24 inches) in its native range, although the largest individuals in South Florida rarely exceed 36cm (14 inches). Overall, little is known regarding the age and growth of this species.
Food Habits
Walking catfish are benthic omnivores, industrious in their search for food. A nocturnal species, walking catfish search the bottom with their barbels vigorously sifting through detritus and soft substrates. A true generalist, walking catfish consume a wide variety of prey, including eggs or larvae of other fishes, small fishes, and a number of invertebrate taxa such as annelids, crustaceans, and insects. Given these somewhat indiscriminate feeding habits, it is not unusual to find a fair amount of detritus or plant matter in the gut this species. In densely populated drying pools, walking catfish are particularly indiscriminate in their choice of prey items, often seizing and consuming a wider variety of prey than what may normally be available.
· Reproduction
Walking catfish construct nests made of detritus or submerged vegetation. The male guards the adhesive eggs and free-swimming young. In the native range of the walking catfish, spawning is coincident with the onset of the rainy season during which the species may construct nests in the flooded environs. A strong correlation between spawning and the wet season appears to be true for the non-native populations of walking catfishes in South Florida as well.
Predators
Walking catfish of all ages and size classes fall victim to a wide variety of predators including other fishes, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Wading birds are particularly adept at exploiting walking catfishes "stranded" in shallow drying pools and other evaporating water bodies. Introduced walking catfish in South Florida face at least one other source of mortality. From time to time, walking catfish may be seen migrating en masse from water body to water body, often traversing busy South Florida roads in the process. Such migrations take place most often on rainy nights, as the cool moist conditions reduce the risk of desiccation and abrasion. Nonetheless, scores of individual walking catfish are often killed during these movements by automobile traffic. Sections of roads such as U.S. 41 (Tamiami Trail) can actually become hazardously slick with the crushed bodies of walking catfish.
· Parasites
Enteric septicemia of catfish or "ESC" has been reported for walking catfish. Caused by the bacterium Edwardsiella ictaluri, this disease is of considerable concern to North American commercial catfish operations. Fortunately, most such operations are maintained outside the introduced range of the walking catfish, greatly reducing the possibility of wild walking catfishes infecting the farmed fishes, at least in North America.
Importance to Humans
Within areas of its native range, the walking catfish is valued as a food fish and is the focus of both subsistence fishers and commercial farming operations. Owing to its ability to survive extended periods out of water, walking catfish can be sold and traded live with ease, ensuring a fairly fresh food product. Outside of its native range, the walking catfish is a demonstrated pest, with the potential to do severe ecological and economic harm. In response, numerous countries have "blacklisted" the walking catfish, including the United States, which has classified all members of the family Clariidae as injurious wildlife, illegal to possess without a federal permit.
For a clear demonstration of the walking catfish's ability to invade and alter new habitats one need look no further than Florida, USA. The origins of the well-known population of walking catfish thriving in South Florida today date to the early 1960's and are well documented. The initial introduction is believed to be linked either to the importation of adult brood stock by an aquaculture facility in Palm Beach County or to a truck transporting brood fishes between Miami and the town of Parkland, Broward County, Florida. The spread of the walking catfish from this zone of introduction has been nothing short of remarkable. Finding the many hundreds of miles of interconnected canals in south Florida to be a veritable highway for dispersal, this species spread to 20 counties in 10 years, no doubt aided by its ability to traverse short distances over land and potentially enhanced survivorship imparted by parental care of their young.
Besides colonizing a vast area, walking catfish have achieved extraordinary levels of abundance in certain areas of South Florida as well. Analysis by one researcher noted levels of abundance as great as 3,000 pounds of walking catfish per acre.
Since the explosive initial spread of this species in Florida, its dispersal northward has slowed. Studies have shown that the lower lethal temperature for walking catfish is 9.4 - 12.8° C, depending upon the "thermal history" of individual fish. Although such a lower limit would seem to eliminate further northward colonization, concern remains that the species could find refugia in the form of the many warm springs of north central Florida and survive short cold spells through its habit of burrowing into the mud during periods of low temperature.
Given the source of the South Florida population it is ironic that one of the most clearly demonstrated negative effects of walking catfish in the region is their propensity to invade commercial aquaculture facilities, often consuming vast numbers of the stocks of fishes therein.
Conservation
The walking catfish's ability to withstand marginalized and altered habitats likely precludes any significant decline in this species within its native range or elsewhere. In areas where it has been introduced, the walking catfish is thought certain to pose a threat to native fishes and aquatic environments although relatively little quantitative evidence has been published to date.
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| pdog |
quote:
voodoopug wrote:
In areas where it has been introduced, the walking catfish is thought certain to pose a threat.
Something Fishey here !!!
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| parmeda |
Hey pdog...do you think jb wants me to jump a plane and go kick his ass?
He's this ---> <--- close to it becoming a reality  |
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| voodoopug |
quote:
pdog wrote:
Something Fishey here !!!
Pdog, we have had our disagreements, but as a fellow stones fan, i must warn you to watch out for these "Walking Catfish", i have checked outside of my office numerous times today, and thankfully have not seen any, as we are particularly dry in chicago these days, i feared that they may be searching for alternative habitats. They pose a real and present threat to our safety. |
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| Joey |
" Something Fishey ( An immense sic ) here !!! "
......................................................
[ Edited by Steelie ]
[Edited by Joey] |
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| voodoopug |
quote:
Joey wrote:
" Something Fishey ( An immense sic ) here !!! "
......................................................
[ Edited by Steelie ]
[Edited by Joey]
the Great Blue Heron is a natural predator of the Walking Catfish....i feel i may have to surround myself with them.
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| FPM C10 |
quote:
Joey wrote:
Are these the dreaded walking catfish? They seem quite skanky!
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| Joey |
quote:
FPM C10 wrote:
Are these the dreaded walking catfish? They seem quite skanky!
******** SNIFF ******************
WOODY ALLEN: HISTORY OVERWHELMS 9/11
Tue Jun 28 2005 09:40:21 ET
Woody Allen says he, as a filmmaker, is not interested in 9/11.
'It's too small, history overwhelms it," Allen reportedly tells DER SPIEGEL.
"The history of the world is like: He kills me, I kill him, only with different cosmetics and different castings. So in 2001, some fanatics killed some Americans, and now some Americans are killing some Iraqis."
Tuesday's NY POST quotes the master director: "And in my childhood, some Nazis killed Jews. And now, some Jewish people and some Palestinians are killing each other. Political questions, if you go back thousands of years, are ephemeral, not important. History is the same thing over and over again."
Developing...
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| pdog |
quote:
parmeda wrote:
Hey pdog...do you think jb wants me to jump a plane and go kick his ass?
He's this ---> <--- close to it becoming a reality
If you're going to jump a plane, head for a Stones gig !!!
Got Greet?
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| pdog |
quote:
we have had our disagreements
I didn't know we were disagreeing, I thought you were just jb's press secretary...
DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL?
quote:
voodoopug wrote:
They pose a real and present threat to our safety.
I'm afraid of clowns !!!
...and Rednecks !!!
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| voodoopug |
I make certain information available when it is appropriate. This can all be discussed at a meet and greet session. |
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| pdog |
quote:
voodoopug wrote:
I make certain information available when it is appropriate. This can all be discussed at a meet and greet session.
Wow, that's really weird. I was going to say the same exact thing... What're the odds?
1 in 71,985,305
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| voodoopug |
quote:
pdog wrote:
Wow, that's really weird. I was going to say the same exact thing... What're the odds?
1 in 71,985,305
per joey....do you like hats?
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| glencar |
No dog should ever have to undergo that sort of treatment! |
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| Joey |
quote:
glencar wrote:
No dog should ever have to undergo that sort of treatment!
Oh , YEAH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Take THIS !!!! :
Frisky !
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| voodoopug |
quote:
Joey wrote:
Oh , YEAH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Take THIS !!!! :
Frisky !
do you like pig suits? |
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| voodoopug |
my pugs do not wear "outfits" Jagger has a CHicago Bears Sweater to wear when it is cold in the winter and Molly has a very sharp looking red sweater to warm her during cold days. Otherwise, i do not dress them up! |
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| Joey |
quote:
voodoopug wrote:
do you like pig suits?
I like sweaters ................and you ?!?!
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| voodoopug |
quote:
Joey wrote:
I like sweaters ................and you ?!?!
isnt it great when joey is "on" |
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| Joey |
quote:
voodoopug wrote:
isnt it great when joey is "on"
Come to Johnny !!!!!
Joey Carson |
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| FPM C10 |
quote:
pdog wrote:
I didn't know we were disagreeing, I thought you were just jb's press secretary...
DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL?
ugh. Man, don't you just HATE that weasel Scott McClellan? I thought the LAST guy, Ari, was bad, but this doofus is ... actually perfectly suited for his job. Clueless and arrogant and a lousy liar, just like his boss.
I actually watched the whatchamallit last night. First political/news TV I've watched in months. Ridiculous. Talk about circular logic, if you could call ANYthing he said "logical".
Oh, sorry to "hijack" the thread...back to the Pdog vs Pug show...
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| Joey |
quote:
FPM C10 wrote:
Oh, sorry to "hijack" the thread...back to the Pdog vs Pug show...
W- W- W- What ?!?!?!
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| pdog |
quote:
FPM C10 wrote:
ugh. Man, don't you just HATE that weasel Scott McClellan? I thought the LAST guy, Ari, was bad, but this doofus is ... actually perfectly suited for his job. Clueless and arrogant and a lousy liar, just like his boss.
I actually watched the whatchamallit last night. First political/news TV I've watched in months. Ridiculous. Talk about circular logic, if you could call ANYthing he said "logical".
Oh, sorry to "hijack" the thread...back to the Pdog vs Pug show...
Word?
Word!
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| LadyJane |
Voodoopug....you must learn to face your fear!!!!!
LJ. |
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| jb |
quote:
LadyJane wrote:
Voodoopug....you must learn to face your fear!!!!!
LJ.
I have privately told Pug the same thing.....and you are doing him a service which he should be grateful for. |
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| Joey |
I continue to suffer from flank pain, chronic IBS, benign fasciculation, and other stress related conditions. This includes rectal irritation, burning sensations upon urination, swollen glands, loose skin, and a very painful bile duct. Lately, this stress has caused scalp twitching, which I fear is a symptom of a major, terminal ailment.
Tee Hee
Frisky !
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| LadyJane |
quote:
jb wrote:
I have privately told Pug the same thing.....and you are doing him a service which he should be grateful for.
I feel it is my duty to do what I can for the good of the Board and all of its members.
LJ. |
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| voodoopug |
quote:
LadyJane wrote:
Voodoopug....you must learn to face your fear!!!!!
LJ.
This is truly disturbing. A public intervention is not what we need at this point. My fear of the walking catfish has now been escalated after seeing this beast. While I beleive that your intentions were not to harm, just as Piotrs on Shidoobee has agreed to do, he posts in the headings "WARNING, PHOTOS OF FISH" so that i will not be caught off guard. I fear that a scare strong enough could cause long term mental damage. |
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| jb |
quote:
voodoopug wrote:
This is truly disturbing. A public intervention is not what we need at this point. My fear of the walking catfish has now been escalated after seeing this beast. While I beleive that your intentions were not to harm, just as Piotrs on Shidoobee has agreed to do, he posts in the headings "WARNING, PHOTOS OF FISH" so that i will not be caught off guard. I fear that a scare strong enough could cause long term mental damage.
To me, this was an act of kindness and concern by LJ...I am afraid to fly but I have to...I am also afraid of elevators and Turtle Neck shirts................I have been battling demons for years and I wish I had someone like LJ to scare me straight.........the above fish should be embraced..it is a thing of beauty with it's slick complexion, oily skin, and large whiskers..think of it as an aquatic Pug and love the fish....................................
[Edited by jb] |
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