Chilhuil sea catfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chilhuil sea catfish |
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The Chilhuil sea catfish (Bagre panamensis), also known as the Chihuil, is a type of sea catfish. It belongs to the Ariidae family of fish. This interesting fish was first described by a scientist named Theodore Gill in 1863.
This catfish lives in warm, salty ocean waters and also in brackish water, which is a mix of fresh and salt water. You can find it in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Its home ranges from California in the USA all the way down to Colombia, Guatemala, Peru, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, and Mexico.
About the Chilhuil Sea Catfish
The Chilhuil sea catfish lives at different depths in the ocean. It can be found from about 3 meters (10 feet) to 177 meters (580 feet) deep. However, it usually prefers to stay between 10 and 60 meters (33 to 200 feet) deep. This fish can grow quite large, reaching a maximum length of about 51 centimeters (20 inches).
Importance to People
The Chilhuil sea catfish is very important for fisheries. This means people catch it for food and to sell. It is often sold fresh in markets. People have been eating this fish for a very long time, even before Christopher Columbus arrived in the Americas.
Protecting the Chilhuil Sea Catfish
Scientists keep an eye on fish populations to make sure they are healthy. The IUCN redlist is a group that checks on how many animals are left in the wild. They have listed the Chilhuil sea catfish as "Least Concern." This is good news!
This means there are plenty of these fish around. There are no major threats known to be harming their numbers. Also, some of the places where this catfish lives are protected ocean areas. These special areas help keep the fish and their homes safe.
