An invasive catfish capable of walking across land and breathing air. Devastating to Florida native fish populations.

Also called: Walking Catfish, Magur

Native status: Non-native (Asia); invasive in Florida

§ Quick facts

SizeLength 30–60 cm; record 120 cm
Weight200 g–4 kg
LifespanWild 8–15 years
OrderSiluriformes
FamilyClariidae

§ Encyclopedia

The walking catfish is a species of freshwater airbreathing catfish native to Southeast Asia. It is named for its ability to "walk" and wiggle across dry land, to find food or suitable environments. While it does not truly walk as most bipeds or quadrupeds do, it can use its pectoral fins to keep it upright as it makes a wiggling motion with snakelike movements to traverse land. This fish normally lives in slow-moving and often stagnant waters in ponds, swamps, streams, and rivers, as well as in flooded rice paddies, or temporary pools that may dry up. When this happens, its "walking" skill allows the fish to move to other aquatic environments. Considerable taxonomic confusion surrounds this species, and it has frequently been confused with other close relatives. One main distinction between the walking catfish and the native North American ictalurid catfish with which it is sometimes confused, is that the walking catfish lacks an adipose fin. It can survive 18 hours out of water.

Source: Wikipedia — Walking catfish Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Long slender catfish with broad flat head; long whiskers (barbels); eel-like body; dark gray to brown coloration with pale belly.

Similar species. Native US catfish (different shape; cannot breathe air). Snakeheads (different family; different head shape).

Voice. Silent.

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Voracious carnivore: fish, frogs, snails, crustaceans, scavenging carrion.

Behavior. Native to East Asia; introduced to Florida in 1960s via aquarium trade. Now established across central and southern Florida. Can survive out of water for hours by breathing atmospheric air through specialized labyrinth organ; can wriggle across wet ground to colonize new water bodies (the basis of the "walking" name). Devastating to native fish populations in invaded areas.

§ Range

Native to Asia; invasive in Florida

§ Habitat

Ponds, ditches, marshes

§ Threats

In Florida: they're the threat to native fish.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the walking catfish (invasive) is currently classified as Least Concern.

§ What helps

In Florida: report sightings. Don't release aquarium fish. Harvest if caught.

Support our work More ways to help

§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species
  • Florida FWC
  • IUCN Red List 2010