Pigeons on the menu for some catfish

I came across this interesting video today from Animal Wire that shows a population of catfish caught hunting pigeons on land:

Who knew that catfish had more in common with cats than just their whiskers.


  1. #1 Jim Thomerson
    January 30, 2014

    Looks like the European Wels. I am amazed that they have never been introduced into the US (so far as I know).

  2. #2 Greg Laden
    February 11, 2014

    It is indeed the European Wels. It is considered to be introduced in western Europe because its “original” range did not include that. But since there is no major biogeographical barrier between its traditional range and the new range other than land bewteen rivers being barriers, it is not all that invasive. But it was probably put there by anglers.

    I wrote the catfish up here a while back: http://10000birds.com/bird-eating-catfish.htm

    Also, there is not a fish that eats another bird: http://10000birds.com/africa-tigerfish-eat-swallows.htm

    I think we have to keep an eye on the fish.