Many people can’t tell the difference between catfish and mudfish. These two fish species have also been wrongly regarded as the same. However, this is not correct; the catfish and mudfish are two different fish species as you will find out after reading this article.
Catfish vs Mudfish
What makes them different?
Catfish and mudfish have some similar features; they both have slippery skin without scales and similar colors. To tell them part you can look out for the following features;
Catfish can be easily identified because they have pronounced barbels which look like cat whiskers. Mudfish do not have barbels, the head of a mudfish looks like that of a snake, so you can know if the fish you are looking at is a catfish from this feature.
While catfish have a flathead, mudfish have a more rounded head shape with larger jaws; mudfish also have visible sharp teeth used for catching prey.
Catfish also have pronounced dorsal fins which are not present in the mudfish anatomy; instead, the mudfish has smaller dorsal fins that have a shade of green speckles on them. This is another distinctive feature to tell catfish and mudfish apart.
Their habitat
Catfish are freshwater fish species. They live in rivers and lakes in warmer regions. Catfish can be found in parts of North America, Asia, Europe, and Africa. Mudfish can also be found in these areas, especially in Australia and New Zealand. Mudfish prefer to hide under cover of mud; anglers go searching for mudfish in the shallow parts of rivers or lakes where the bottom parts are murky. Mudfish also find it easy to adapt to different conditions.
Mudfish are known to stay and multiply in rivers and lakes they have made their home. They rarely migrate to other rivers or water bodies except for the water they live in dries up during the hot weather.
Feeding habits
Catfish can eat smaller aquatic animals such as worms, crayfish, and minnows; they also eat seaweed and other aquatic plants. Mudfish enjoy eating crustaceans which they trap in their strong jaws. They can also feed on smaller fish and plants under water.
The nutritional value of catfish and mudfish are almost similar; both fish species are rich in vitamins and protein. However, Catfish is more commonly found because of its even distribution all over the world.
Best fishing methods
Anglers prefer using different types of rigs set up to catch either catfish or mudfish. What matters is the use of the best lure to attract the fish. Catfish are active during the day and at night; however, mudfish are known to be active only at night. They are nocturnal fish species that come out under cover of darkness to feed.
In some regions, there are restrictions against catching mudfish because many of its species are regarded as endangered species. This is one of the reasons mudfish may not be readily available for sale in your local fish market. However, the demand for catfish is on a high always, because it can be found in many parts of the world, and they multiply quickly.
Cooking methods for both fish species are also similar. Mudfish and catfish can be stewed, fried in pans or grilled.
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