There are 38 known species of catfish in the United States, 22 are found in Tennessee. The largest of the 22 species and the largest in all of North America is the Blue Catfish. A favorite catch among commercial and competitive fishermen, the Blue Catfish is a bottom-dwelling animal with long, slender barbels. Blue Catfish rely more on their sense of taste and touch than sight, which is where their barbels come in handy. Covered with tastebuds, barbels allow Blue Catfish to more easily navigate the murky, muddy waters they often call home. Barbels also trigger a feeding response when food touches them, which can result in interesting behavior, since, as omnivores, Blue catfish can eat practically any food. Catfish have a band of teeth on the roof of their mouths that point toward their throats, making it nearly impossible for prey to escape. When the dams release water, the levels can change drastically and allow food items through – often sending the blue catfish into a feeding frenzy.
While there are many tall tales about giant catfish, there is a bit of truth to the legend. The largest recorded catfish came in at over 300 lbs. Guests can see our large Blue Catfish in the Tennessee River exhibit in the River Journey building.
