Boofhead Catfish

Interesting Info

• The Boofhead Catfish is found in northern Australia (Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia) and southern New Guinea, living in both rivers and estuaries.
• The body is dark grey to bluish on top and silvery below, with long whisker-like barbels around the mouth that help it detect food in murky water.
• Its common name comes from its broad, blunt head and powerful jaws, giving it a “boofy” appearance.
• Adults prefer large freshwater rivers, floodplain lagoons, and deep pools, but they can tolerate brackish water near river mouths.
• Their diet includes insects, worms, molluscs, crustaceans, and small fish, making them opportunistic bottom-feeders.
• Boofhead Catfish are powerful swimmers and can travel long distances during floods to reach new habitats.
• They often rest in deep holes and shaded banks during the day, feeding more actively at night.
• Breeding takes place in the wet season, when rising waters trigger spawning migrations into floodplains and upstream river reaches.
• Like many ariid catfish, males may mouthbrood the eggs and young, protecting them until they are free-swimming.
• The Boofhead Catfish has sharp, mildly venomous spines in its fins. A jab from one can be very painful, so anglers and scientists handle them with care. They aren’t dangerous if left alone, but they can give you a nasty sting if grabbed the wrong way.
• The lifespan is not well documented, but similar catfish live around 8–12 years in the wild.