Barber eel
Barber eels, also known as striped eel catfish, are a species of oceanwater catfish found primarily in the Indo-Pacific region, where the Pacific and Indian Oceans converge. They are characterized by their thin, tubular bodies and can grow to nearly three feet in length. Young barber eels display vibrant black-and-white horizontal stripes, which serve as a warning to potential predators about their skin toxins. As they mature, these eels lose their bright coloration and become a dull brown, although they retain their venomous glands for self-defense.
Belonging to the Plotosidae family, one of the few catfish families inhabiting saltwater, barber eels are adept swimmers, using various fins for propulsion and balance. They typically travel in large schools, often referred to as "feeding-balls," which can resemble sea urchins in the water. However, barber eels have also invaded new aquatic environments, such as the Mediterranean Sea since 2001, raising concerns about their impact on native species. They reproduce through a spawning process, with females releasing eggs that are fertilized by males. Despite their distinctive traits, the lifespan of barber eels remains unknown.
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Barber eel
Barber eels are a species of oceanwater catfish native to the Indo-Pacific region. This is where the Pacific and Indian Oceans combine. They are called eels for their thin, tubular appearance. Barber eels are also called striped eel catfish. Young barber eels have bright, white-and-black-striped bodies, but as they grow older their coloring pales, and they turn a dull brown.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Plotosidae
Genus: Plotosus
Species: Lineatus
Barber eels belong to a family of catfish known as the Plotosidae family. Plotisidae and Ariidae are the only two families of catfish which live in saltwater.
Barber eels may grow to be up to nearly three feet (one meter) long. When they are young, their bodies are covered with black-and-white horizontal stripes, or stripes running the length of their bodies. These brightly-colored stripes warn other fish that barber eels have skin toxins, or poisons. Bright colors are often a sign of poisonous skin in the animal kingdom. The barber eel's venom is located on their skin and spines. It is used for self-defense. As these young barber eels grow they lose their bright colors and become a dull brown, but they keep their poisonous glands.
Like most other catfish, barber eels process oxygen through the gills on the sides of their bodies. They do this by taking water into their mouths, keeping the oxygen they need, and releasing the chemical waste out through their gills.
They swim through oceanic waters using their many fins. They use their caudal, or tail, and pectoral, or side, fins to propel them through the water. Their dorsal and anal, or back and belly, fins keep them balanced as they swim through the oceean waters.
Barber eels typically travel in large schools, or groups. Schools of young barber eels are sometimes referred to as "feeding-balls" for their appearance of rolling through the water looking for food. Masses of young barber eels have even been said to look like sea urchins.
Barber eels have been steadily advancing into other ocean waters. When they enter new areas, they are considered invasive. This means they become threatening to native organisms. Barber eels were first noted to be in the Mediterranean Sea in 2001. In October 2023, barber eels were reported in the waters off Cyrus. Because of their natural toxins, special warnings were issued so that people, like fishermen, could prepare if they encountered the species.
Barber eels begin mating when a female depositing a large number of eggs into the water. A male fertilizes the female's eggs. This system is called spawning. After an incubation period, or time of development within an egg, young barber eels hatch and form a school.
The life span of barber eels is not known.
Bibliography
“Plotosus lineatus.” Animalia, 2024, animalia.bio/plotosus-lineatus. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.
“Plotosus lineatus Catfish Eel. Animal Diversity Web, 2024, animaldiversity.org/accounts/Plotosus‗lineatus/classification. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.
Shkurko, Jonathan. “New, Potentially Dangerous Fish Found off Cyprus.” Cyprus Mail, 2 Oct. 2023, cyprus-mail.com/2023/10/02/new-potentially-dangerous-fish-found-off-cyprus. Accessed 28 Mar.