Description of the Hardhead Catfish Arius Felis Essay

Name – Arius felis Name – Hardhead catfish Description – Hardhead catfish have six rounded barbels that stick out from their chins like whiskers. These barbels help the catfish find crabs, fish and shrimp in the muddy bays where they live. The dorsal and pectoral fins each are supported by a sharp, slime-covered barbed spine. The catfish is covered in a mildly toxic slime, that causes severe pain, and swelling, should the catfish cut you. The dorsal spine normally is held erect when the fish is excited and a tennis shoe or even a leather-soled shoe offers little protection. Adults may reach two pounds or more, but the average is about 10 inches and half a pound. Location – TAMUG Fishing Pier 29 °18†²56†³N 94 °49†²03†³W Distribution – The†¦show more content†¦Other - Native Picture – Name – Anguilla rostrata Name – American Eel Description – Anguilla and rostrata are both Latin, meaning eel and beaked, respectively. The latter is probably a reference to the fishs snout. The American eel has a slender snakelike body with very small scales, and the fish may appear naked. A long dorsal fin usually extends for more than half the length of the body and is continuous with a similar ventral fin. Pelvic fins are absent. The back may be olive-green to brown shading to greenish-yellow on the sides and light gray or white on the belly. Location – TAMUG Fishing Pier 29 °18†²56†³N 94 °49†²03†³W Distribution – The American eel occurs in a variety of habitats. Known from Greenland to Brazil, it probably spans a wider range of latitudes than any other species in North America. American eels occur as far west as New Mexico, and are common throughout the Caribbean and the West Indies. Although it is native to much of Texas, the construction of dams, which impede upstream spawning migrations, has eliminated this species from most central and western areas of the state. Other - Native Picture – Name –Micropogonias undulatus Name – Atlantic Croaker Description – The Atlantic croaker is a fish, usually about 12 inches long, that weighs anywhere from  ½ pound, to 2 pounds on average. Its distinguishing characteristics include three to five pairs of small barbels or whiskers on their chins to help them feel for food on the sea