science education resource

Catfish (Channel)

To view these resources with no ads, please Login or Subscribe to help support our content development.

School subscriptions can access more than 175 downloadable unit bundles in our store for free (a value of $1,500).

District subscriptions provide huge group discounts for their schools. Email for a quote: sheri@exploringnature.org.

Ictalurus punctatus
Catfish (Channel)

Range

They are found throughout the U.S. now, though were introduced west of the Rocky mountains. They can be found all the way south into Mexico.

Habitat

They live in rivers, and large streams with slow to medium flow of water.

Body Traits

They weigh about 2 - 4 pounds, though can weigh much more at times. They are greenish-brown to slate colored on their back and sides, lighter underneath and tiny black spotting. Their tail fin is very forked. Their upper jaw juts out beyond the lower jaw. They have 3 pairs of whiskers (barbels) around the mouth that act as sense organs.

Habits

They have a very good sense of smell and taste.

Diet

They eat plants, insects, mollusks, crustaceans, and other fish.

To view these resources with no ads, please Login or Subscribe to help support our content development.

School subscriptions can access more than 175 downloadable unit bundles in our store for free (a value of $1,500).

District subscriptions provide huge group discounts for their schools. Email for a quote: sheri@exploringnature.org.

Reproduction

Males find a safe nest sites under a log, rock or river bank and females lay eggs in a yellow glob. Males guard the nest. They hatch in about a week and for another week stay in the nest guarded by the male.

Catfish (Channel)

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Ictaluridae
Genus: Ictalurus
Species: I. punctatus

Citing Research References

When you research information you must cite the reference. Citing for websites is different from citing from books, magazines and periodicals. The style of citing shown here is from the MLA Style Citations (Modern Language Association).

When citing a WEBSITE the general format is as follows.
Author Last Name, First Name(s). "Title: Subtitle of Part of Web Page, if appropriate." Title: Subtitle: Section of Page if appropriate. Sponsoring/Publishing Agency, If Given. Additional significant descriptive information. Date of Electronic Publication or other Date, such as Last Updated. Day Month Year of access < URL >.

Here is an example of citing this page:

Amsel, Sheri. "Catfish (Channel)" Exploring Nature Educational Resource ©2005-2024. March 30, 2024
< http://www.exploringnature.org/db/view/596 >

Exploringnature.org has more than 2,000 illustrated animals. Read about them, color them, label them, learn to draw them.