General Description: Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) are fusiform-shaped fish with a flattened head, deeply notched tail, and 4 pairs of whiskers (barbels) around the mouth. The dorsal color is olive-brown to slate-blue, while the ventral color is white. Young catfish are lighter overall and have numerous small black spots on the back, but these become obscured in older adults. The rounded anal fin has 24-29 soft rays.

Taxonomy: Family: Catfish (Ictaluridae).

Diet: These fish area scavengers and will eat anything they can find -- dead or alive, but they mostly eat aquatic insects, crayfish, mollusks, crustaceans, and fishes.

Favored Habitat: Warm, slow-moving waters such as large rivers, lakes, and ponds.

Where to Find: Channel catfish are native to eastern North America. Around Las Vegas, look for this species in Lake Mead and the Colorado River.

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