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So we have probably all heard of invasive walking catfish... but who has ever seen one walking? ... or even seen one in real life? ... or seen a photo of one walking?
Well, my wife Crystal spotted this fish on the bank of Fisheating Creek from her kayak. She couldn't quite believe her eyes so caught up with me and we paddled back to investigate. I have seen a lot of strange things, but here was a fish that walked out of the creek in broad daylight to sit in the sun and enjoy a bit of fresh air.
This was a remote part of the creek, not one visited by fishermen, and rarely by paddlers for at least the past 6 months. There it was standing on its pectoral fins with sailfin raised high. It stood still until we touched it, and then it took a deep breath, fanned out it's tail and looked at us.
Fish biologist, Chad Hanson helped me identify it as a vermiculated sailfin catfish, one of a number of exotic sucker catfish, and this one can stay out of water for hours. Who'd a ever thunk?!
Well, my wife Crystal spotted this fish on the bank of Fisheating Creek from her kayak. She couldn't quite believe her eyes so caught up with me and we paddled back to investigate. I have seen a lot of strange things, but here was a fish that walked out of the creek in broad daylight to sit in the sun and enjoy a bit of fresh air.
This was a remote part of the creek, not one visited by fishermen, and rarely by paddlers for at least the past 6 months. There it was standing on its pectoral fins with sailfin raised high. It stood still until we touched it, and then it took a deep breath, fanned out it's tail and looked at us.
Fish biologist, Chad Hanson helped me identify it as a vermiculated sailfin catfish, one of a number of exotic sucker catfish, and this one can stay out of water for hours. Who'd a ever thunk?!
5 comments:
This is amazing. Thanks for taking the time to share. I've heard of walking catfish and have never seen one. Great photo. Pamela
I agree that it's a great photo and I'm so glad you're blogging about your finds. Pat
David: fabulous photo. So glad to see you have a blog where you can post your fascinating finds. Pat
this really surprised me this is amazing i never new fish could comfortably stay out of water for any length of time amazing picture i would love to see one myself
This is not a walking catfish. It is one of the 3 Pterygoplichthys that occur in Florida, AKA sailfin suckermouth catfish.
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