Colombian Shark Catfish Identification Guide
Recognize the Colombian shark catfish by its sleek silver body, tall shark-like dorsal fin, and long barbels.
Read the full Colombian Shark Catfish encyclopedia entry →
Key identification features
- Sleek, torpedo-shaped, silver-gray scaleless body
- Tall, triangular, shark-like dorsal fin
- Deeply forked tail fin
- Long barbels: one pair at the jaw and two pairs under the chin
- Grows to roughly 14-18 inches (35-45 cm)
Common look-alikes
- Iridescent shark (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) has a more slender, elongated profile, a small adipose fin, and much shorter barbels.
- Other sea catfish, such as the gafftopsail catfish, differ in barbel length and fin coloration, often showing darker fin edges.
- Freshwater "sharks" like the red-tailed black shark are cyprinids with no barbels at all, easily ruling them out.
Where you'll see one
Colombian shark catfish inhabit brackish and freshwater rivers and estuaries along the Pacific coast of Central and South America, including Colombia and Costa Rica. In the wild they favor slow-moving, turbid water with a soft mud or sand bottom and are most active at dusk and after dark, cruising in loose, size-matched groups through open water rather than hugging cover.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell a Colombian shark catfish from an iridescent shark?
Look at the barbels and dorsal fin: the Colombian shark catfish has long, obvious barbels and a taller triangular dorsal fin, while the iridescent shark has short barbels and a slimmer body.
What fin gives the Colombian shark catfish its name?
Its tall, upright, triangular dorsal fin closely resembles a shark's fin, which is the main reason for the common name.