Instead of traditional scales, what typically covers the body of most catfish species?
Answer
Smooth, mucus-coated skin
Catfish generally lack scales; their bodies are instead covered in smooth skin coated with mucus, though some species may have bony plates or scutes for protection.
Related Questions
What specialized function do the chemoreceptors packed within catfish barbels primarily serve?Instead of traditional scales, what typically covers the body of most catfish species?How many sensory barbels does a typical North American Channel Catfish possess around its mouth?What body shape characteristic is often described for catfish, adapted for their role as bottom-dwellers?What coloration pattern helps camouflage catfish by contrasting their top and bottom sides?On which fins does the catfish typically possess a strong, bony, leading spine that can lock outward when threatened?If a catfish spine is venomous, where is the protein responsible for the venom produced?What is the characteristic head profile of the Blue Catfish (*Ictalurus furcatus*)?What physical feature is considered the most reliable constant differentiator between Channel Catfish and Blue Catfish?What is the approximate maximum reported weight for goliath species like the Mekong giant catfish?