Catfish vs. Bullhead — What's the Difference?

Catfish (or catfishes; order Siluriformes or Nematognathi) are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the three largest species alive, the Mekong giant catfish from Southeast Asia, the wels catfish of Eurasia, and the piraíba of South America, to detritivores (species that eat dead material on the bottom), and even to a tiny parasitic species commonly called the Candiru, Vandellia cirrhosa.

Any of several stocky North American freshwater catfishes of the genus Ameiurus, having a tail that is not forked.

A freshwater or marine fish with barbels resembling whiskers round the mouth, typically bottom-dwelling.

Any of several sculpins, especially the miller's thumb.

Another term for wolf fish

(North America) any of a variety of related species of generally dark-colored catfish in the family Ictaluridae.

Fish for catfish

(North America) The black bullhead, Ameiurus melas.

Lure (someone) into a relationship by means of a fictional online persona

(North America) The brown bullhead, Ameiurus nebulosus.

Any of numerous scaleless, chiefly freshwater fishes of the order Siluriformes, characteristically having whiskerlike barbels extending from the upper jaw. Also called regionally mud cat.

(North America) The yellow bullhead, Ameiurus natalis.

Any fish of the order Siluriformes, mainly found in fresh water, lacking scales, and having barbels like whiskers around the mouth.

(Europe, Asia) Any of various sculpins of the suborder Scorpaenoidei

The meat of such a fish, popular in the Southern U.S. and Central Europe.

(Europe, Asia) The European bullhead, Cottus gobio.

(internet) Someone who creates a fake profile on a social media platform in order to deceive people.

(New Zealand) A fish of species Gobiomorphus gobioides.

(internet) Such a fake profile.

A bullhead shark (Heterodontus spp.).

To fish for catfish.

(rare) An obstinate person.

To create and operate a fake online profile to deceive (someone).

(rail transport) A bullhead rail.

A name given in the United States to various species of siluroid fishes; as, the yellow cat (Amiurus natalis); the bind cat (Gronias nigrilabrus); the mud cat (Pilodictic oilwaris), the stone cat (Noturus flavus); the sea cat (Arius felis), etc. This name is also sometimes applied to the wolf fish. See Bullhrad.

(horology) A chronograph (watch or stopwatch) with two push buttons arranged like the horns of a bull on the top end of the case, typically with the crown between them.

Flesh of scaleless food fish of the southern United States; often farmed

A fresh-water fish of many species, of the genus Uranidea, esp. Uranidea gobio of Europe, and Uranidea Richardsoni of the United States; - called also miller's thumb.

Large ferocious northern deep-sea food fishes with strong teeth and no pelvic fins

The black-bellied plover (Squatarola helvetica); - called also beetlehead.

Any of numerous mostly freshwater bottom-living fishes of Eurasia and North America with barbels like whiskers around the mouth

A stupid fellow; a lubber.

A small black water insect.

Freshwater sculpin with a large flattened bony-plated head with hornlike spines

Any of several common freshwater catfishes of the United States