Researcher catalogs venomous catfish

While much research has been conducted on venomous snakes and spiders, little study has been done on species of venomous fish, including catfish, said University of Michigan researcher Jeremy Wright.

Worldwide, there are at least 1,250 species of venomous catfish and possible more than 1,600, Wright said in his study published in the journal BMC Evolutionary Biology.

Catfish venom glands are found in bony spines along the edge of dorsal and pectoral fins. The spines lock into place to enter a potential predator when the catfish feels threatened, Wright said in a release Thursday.

Once the spine enters, membranes surrounding the venom glands are torn, releasing poison into the wound to produce a variety of effects, ranging from severe pain to muscle spasms and respiratory distress, he said.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International.