Walking Catfish

Clarias batrachus

The walking catfish (Clarias batrachus) is a freshwater catfish in the family Clariidae, native to Southeast Asia. Adults typically reach 30-50 cm with an elongated, scaleless body, dark brown to grey coloration, flattened head with four pairs of barbels, and a continuous dorsal fin running nearly the entire body length. This species possesses a specialized suprabranchial organ that allows it to breathe atmospheric air and survive out of water for extended periods. They can use their pectoral fins to 'walk' across land between water bodies, giving them their common name. Found at depths of 0-5 meters in ponds, swamps, rice paddies, and slow-moving rivers throughout Southeast Asia and as an invasive species in Florida. Walking catfish are omnivorous, feeding on fish, invertebrates, plant matter, and detritus. Their ability to survive in oxygen-poor water and move overland makes them remarkably adaptable. They are an important food fish in Southeast Asia.