What is the difference between a barbel and a whisker on a fish?
Catfish and carp have barbels.
Some people call the barbels whiskers, but they are not whiskers.
A barbel is a structure at each edge of the mouth of a carp and catfish. It can be long or short.
A carp has two barbels – one on each side of its mouth.
A catfish has several pairs of barbels – on each side of its face.
Each barbel has taste buds on it, as well as smell sensors.
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM
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