Channel Catfish

A catfish native to North America, distributed across southern Canada, the eastern and northern United States and parts of northern Mexico, with its core range following the Mississippi River basin. It carries four pairs of barbels around its mouth, densely packed with taste buds, and sharp spines on its pectoral and dorsal fins; despite its whiskered look it cannot sting. An average adult reaches at least 30 centimeters and two to four pounds, with the largest recorded specimen weighing 58 pounds. It lives in rivers, reservoirs, lakes and ponds, nesting in crevices and hollows, and is omnivorous, with larger adults preying on fish such as yellow perch and sunfish while also taking snails, clams, crayfish, insects and plant matter.