Catfishes are a diverse group of ray-finned fish named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat’s whiskers (but not all catfish have prominent barbell). Although catfish can generally be found in faster-flowing rivers and streams, some catfish species have adapted to living in shallow salt-water environments while other catfish species live their lives in caves underground. Most catfish are bottom feeders as they are negatively buoyant (which means that they usually sink rather than float due to a reduced gas bladder and a heavy, bony head). The air-breathing catfishes such as Magur and Singhi inhabit shallow waters, withstand low oxygen conditions and are referred to as “live fishes”; they are marketed live and fetch higher price.
