What is the typical coloration pattern observed when viewing the Wels catfish from above versus below?
Answer
A dark, often olive, gray, or brownish back that gradually lightens toward a pale or white underside.
The visual profile of the Wels catfish aids in its camouflage within murky waters. Its typical coloration follows a countershading pattern optimized for its environment. The dorsal, or upper, side presents a dark hue, commonly described as olive, gray, or brownish. This dark coloration transitions gradually as one moves ventrally, lightening considerably toward the belly, which is characteristically pale or white. This gradient helps obscure the fish's silhouette both from above against the darker water column and from below against any ambient light filtering down.
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