The eel catfish (''Channallabes apus'') is an

airbreathing catfish Airbreathing catfish comprise the family Clariidae of the order Siluriformes. Sixteen genera and about 117 species of clariid fishes are described; all are freshwater species. Other groups of catfish also breathe air, such as the Callichthyidae ...

found in the muddy swamps of the tropics of

Central Africa Central Africa (French language, French: ''Afrique centrale''; Spanish language, Spanish: ''África central''; Portuguese language, Portuguese: ''África Central'') is a subregion of the African continent comprising various countries accordin ...

. It grows up to 32.7 cm in total length (12.9 in), and is notable for its ability to propel itself out of the water to catch prey. The thin, eel-shaped body of ''C. apus'' is black or dark brown, with widely spaced spines. A suprabranchial organ, formed by tree-like structures from the second and fourth

gill arches Branchial arches or gill arches are a series of paired bony/cartilaginous "loops" behind the throat ( pharyngeal cavity) of fish, which support the fish gills. As chordates, all vertebrate embryos develop pharyngeal arches, though the eventual ...

, allows the eel catfish to take in oxygen directly from the air for short periods. Its eyes are small and hidden, and it lacks pectoral fins entirely. Like many

anguilliform Fish locomotion is the various types of animal locomotion used by fish, principally by aquatic locomotion, swimming. This is achieved in different groups of fish by a variety of mechanisms of propulsion, most often by wave-like lateral flexions ...

clariids, its jaw muscles are

hypertrophic Hypertrophy is the increase in the volume of an organ or tissue due to the enlargement of its component cells. It is distinguished from hyperplasia, in which the cells remain approximately the same size but increase in number. Although hypertro ...

, a modification that has been linked to increased bite force. The eel catfish hunts both in and out of the water, having a different method for each. In water, ''C. apus'' sucks water and food into its mouth. To catch food on land, the eel catfish lifts the front of its body up, and bends its mouth down on the prey. Its specially adapted spine allows it to do so without weight-bearing pectoral fins.

References

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BBC NewsAfrican fish leaps for land bugs

External links

from Nature
Video
video of the Eel Catfish eating, from YouTube eel catfish Amphibious fish Freshwater fish of Central Africa eel catfish eel catfish {{Clariidae-stub