Category: Fish
The pictus catfish is native to the Amazon and Orinoco River Basins of South America and are commonly kept aquarium fish. Like other members of the Pimelodidae, pictus catfish have extremely long barbels to help them sense their surroundings and find food. They have sharp, mildly venomous spines on their dorsal and caudal fins, so caution must be used when handing them.
The fish that could drown (and other amazing tales)
Fish are masters of aquatic living, though some manage to do pretty well on land, too! Of living species, the mudskipper is probably the best adapted to life out of water - in fact, a mudskipper will drown if it can’t periodically come to the surface! This unusual fish uses its powerful, almost leg-like fins to walk on land and can even use them to “skip” up to 2 feet in the air! Similar to many amphibians, the mudskipper is able to breathe through its skin and the linings of its mouth and throat. It also seals water in its gill chambers when it leaves the water for extended stays on the land, much like a scuba diver brings air with them!-
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