There are over three thousand catfish species, each of these different fish have a common feature, the barbels which make it easy to identify a catfish.
Catfish with Long Nose and Sharp Teeth
There are so many questions about catfish having long noses and sharp teeth. There is a particular catfish that has a long nose; however, regarding sharp teeth, we are yet to find a catfish species that has sharp teeth like fangs.
The idea that catfish have sharp teeth may have come from the fact that catfish species such as the flatheads and channel catfish are ferocious when they see prey. After all, many of the carnivorous animals we know today have very sharp teeth. However, the catfish eats by sucking in and swallowing its food.
There are indications of teeth in some catfish, for example, the little and adorable Twig catfish are known to have very small teeth with which they use to feed on microorganisms in the river. Let’s talk about the long-nosed Twig catfish;
The Twig catfish can easily be missed because of its small size. It has a prominently long nose, which is unlike other commonly found catfish species. The Twig catfish is a master of disguise; it can hide under cover of sticks and seaweeds without detection. It’s thin and elongated shape makes it easy to use such cover as camouflage when predators pass by.
This catfish species also feed on algae. It is mostly kept by owners of aquariums who need the Twig catfish to keep the fish tank clean and free from algae. Its characteristically long nose sets the Twig catfish apart from other catfish species. Twig catfish can be easily identified by the long stripes that conspicuously run from its head to the tail.
Catfish are thriving without sharp teeth
Over the years, there has been no indication that the catfish species are at a disadvantage because they have no teeth. Instead, the fish species have been labeled as invasive and that there is a need to check their population.
Catfish have large mouths, this may not be apparent when the mouth is closed, but during feeding, a catfish can open its mouth wide enough to accommodate and suck in the food. They have strong jaws; catfish can hold prey firmly in their mouths while swallowing.
Anglers confirm that catfish have a strong bite. This is also possible because of their jaws. When the bait is cast in the water where catfish live, it is easy to tell if an adult catfish are biting the bait because of the drag on the fishing line.
However, it can be noted that if you run your fingers on the insides of a catfish’s mouth, for example, the channel or flathead catfish, you will feel the hard formation of dentition in rows where there should be teeth. While this hardened mass cannot be labeled as teeth, they help the catfish to hold on to any prey it catches firmly.
In conclusion, catfish do not have long, sharp teeth but rely on their strong jaws to hold prey before eating. Moreover, the catfish species are known to have short noses. However, the twig catfish stands out as one of this species that has a prominently long nose.
