Description:
Native to Africa, India and the Indo-Pacific, the walking catfish has been introduced into U.S. water.  This elongate fish grows to 15 inches.  The head area is broad, with the body becoming compressed toward the tail.  Body color is dark brown to olive or tan dorsally, white or yellowish below.  Albino fishes are not uncommon.  Four pairs of barbels are placed around the mouth.  The dorsal and anal fins are extended and reach to the caudal peduncle.  The pectoral fins have 1 spine.  No adipose fin is present.  Members of this family of fishes are able to breath oxygen from the air, and thus are able to move over land between bodies of water. 

Habitat:
Walking catfishes inhabit low current areas of swamps, impoundments, and lakes over mud, sand, or vegetated bottoms.  They can be especially abundant in areas where other fishes cannot live, specifically in hypoxic, stagnant, ponds and ditches.  In these habitats, the walking catfish can often be observed gulping air at the water's surface.

Range:
The natural range of this species is Africa, India and the Indo-Pacific.  In the U.S., the fish has spread throughout Florida waters.  It has also been introduced to Georgia, Nevada and California.