Catfish do not have scales. Their bodies are covered in a thick skin that has a viscous mucous to protect it. Some catfish even absorb oxygen through their leather-like skins.
Sharks, sturgeon, lampreys, and catfish all have similar skin types and no scales. In some cases, a person may not be able to tell if a fish has scales just by looking at it.
Catfish are a diverse fish species that can be found in both freshwater and marine habitats. They are called catfish because of their barbels, which resemble the whiskers on a cat.
The two most common types in North America are channel catfish and blue catfish. Channel catfish live in freshwater rivers, lakes, and streams. Blue catfish tend to live in saltwater bays, estuaries, and coastal rivers.
Catfish can be prepared in many different ways including baked, grilled, fried, or boiled. Fried catfish tends to be the most popular and is crispy on the outside and flaky on the inside.