- © A. Reitsma, Aquarium of the Pacific
- Our stinging catfish school in an exhibit in our Tropical Reef Gallery.
he stinging catfish is the only one of the 75 species of catfish that is found among coral reefs. Catfish are named for the barbels on the mouth that give the image of cat-like whiskers. The stinging catfish’s genus name Plotusus is derived from the Greek work, plotus, which means swimming and its species name from the Latin word, linea, referring to the stripe or line. Their venom
Facts and Features
- Geographic Distribution
Indo-Pacific between east Africa and Samoa, especially southern Japan to southern Australia.
- Amazing Facts
Stinging catfish are occasionally found in fresh water streams in Madagascar and East Africa. Some scientists believe that they may travel into fresh water to breed as salmon do.
- At the Aquarium
These fish show off their schooling ability in an exhibit in our Tropical Pacific gallery.