J Fish Biol September 2020 PMID 32754931

Why did the invasive walking catfish cross the road? Terrestrial chemoreception described for the first time in a fish.

Noah R Bressman, Jeffrey E Hill, Miriam A Ashley-Ross

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Peak: 16 in Aug 2020

across 5 sources since Aug 2020

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Aug 2020 – Oct 2025

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AI synopsis

What people are saying

The overall tone reflects high interest, with many discussing how the fish can walk over long distances and detect chemicals in the air, which demonstrates engagement with the novelty of terrestrial chemoreception. Words like 'fun fact,' 'check out,' and references to coverage emphasize the curiosity and appreciation for the research, leading to a conclusion of positive agreement and high interest, with some recognition of its scientific significance.

AgreementModerate agreement

Many discussions highlight the fascinating biological findings, indicating general support or curiosity about the research.

InterestHigh interest

Posts show high enthusiasm and curiosity, especially with examples mentioning the ability of the fish to walk over long distances and its chemoreception capabilities.

EngagementHigh engagement

Several discussions delve into implications or note how this research explores new concepts, demonstrated by references to methods and coverage of the topic.

ImpactModerate impact

While some mention that the research is groundbreaking, most focus on scientific curiosity rather than widespread societal impact.

Abstract in brief

The study investigates how the invasive walking catfish (Clarias batrachus) navigates on land, revealing for the first time that chemoreception (detecting chemicals in the environment) plays a key role in terrestrial orientation, with the fish showing attraction to certain substances like alanine and pond water.
Researchers conducted experiments with the fish in a terrestrial arena, exposing them to various chemicals and controls, and found that the catfish respond to chemical cues both through contact and air detection, indicating a developed sense of terrestrial chemoreception.
Additional observations from Florida residents and online videos suggest that C. batrachus is most active on land during or after heavy rains, often emerging from stormwater drains in urban areas to feed on terrestrial invertebrates, helping inform management strategies for this invasive species.]

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Invasive Walking Catfish Use Chemical Cues for Land Navigation

The study investigates how the invasive walking catfish navigates on land, revealing for the first time that chemoreception plays a key role in terrestrial orientation, with the fish responding to chemical cues both…

SciShow · Dec 5, 2020 178,025 views

Harriet Carroll: Long Covid Scientific Consultancy

@angryhacademic · X

RT @angryhacademic: Fun fact: walking catfish are able to "walk" over 1 km on land, and they can "taste" chemicals in the air that lead the…

Oct 20, 2025 · 1 share · 8,759 followers View post →

Harriet Carroll: Long Covid Scientific Consultancy

@angryhacademic · X

Fun fact: walking catfish are able to "walk" over 1 km on land, and they can "taste" chemicals in the air that lead them to safe water https://t.co/uRQb4t3G61 https://t.co/rVI0XAcYbR

Oct 20, 2024 · 1 like · 1 share · 8,759 followers View post →

Patti Bressman

@p_bressman · X

RT @SICB_DCB_DVM: Check out Noah's recent publication about the walking catfish, here: https://t.co/2f0oJn593s https://t.co/WsO8o7yxEu

Feb 27, 2021 · 2 shares · 37 followers View post →

John P. Friel, Ph.D.

@friel · X

RT @SICB_DCB_DVM: Check out Noah's recent publication about the walking catfish, here: https://t.co/2f0oJn593s https://t.co/WsO8o7yxEu

Feb 26, 2021 · 2 shares · 7,680 followers View post →

SICB DCB-DVM

@SICB_DCB_DVM · X

Check out Noah's recent publication about the walking catfish, here: https://t.co/2f0oJn593s https://t.co/WsO8o7yxEu

Feb 26, 2021 · 3 likes · 2 shares · 1,632 followers View post →

Willie Yeomans

@WillieYeomans · X

RT @TheFSBI: Check out @SciShow's wonderful coverage of @NoahwithFish's work on chemoreception in walking catfish! Original article publish…

Dec 6, 2020 · 2 shares · 1,929 followers View post →

William Perry fishsci.com/@DrWillPerry

@DrWillPerry · X

RT @TheFSBI: Check out @SciShow's wonderful coverage of @NoahwithFish's work on chemoreception in walking catfish! Original article publish…

Dec 5, 2020 · 2 shares · 1,515 followers View post →

fsbi

@TheFSBI · X

Check out @SciShow's wonderful coverage of @NoahwithFish's work on chemoreception in walking catfish! Original article published in #JFB: https://t.co/G3dagVPYWQ https://t.co/nWGKptJ3S8

Dec 5, 2020 · 7 likes · 2 shares · 4,587 followers View post →

David Shiffman, Ph.D.

@whysharksmatter.bsky.social · Bluesky

Why did the invasive walking catfish cross the road? Terrestrial chemoreception described for the first time in a fish https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jfb.14583?af=R

Nov 18, 2020 View post →

fsbi

@TheFSBI · X

Between the #JFB covers, by editor Katherine Sloman: Terrestrial chemoreception in an invasive amphibious catfish https://t.co/iMkNTMQ9iM. Original paper published in JFB by Bressman et al: https://t.co/G3dagVPYWQ https://t.co/iMkNTMQ9iM

Nov 2, 2020 · 4,587 followers View post →

Nick

@NickARJones · X

RT @TheFSBI: #JFB: Why did the invasive walking catfish cross the road? Terrestrial chemoreception described for the first time in a fish h…

Sep 30, 2020 · 1 share · 484 followers View post →

fsbi

@TheFSBI · X

#JFB: Why did the invasive walking catfish cross the road? Terrestrial chemoreception described for the first time in a fish https://t.co/G3dagVPYWQ #FishSci https://t.co/G3dagVPYWQ

Sep 30, 2020 · 2 likes · 1 share · 4,587 followers View post →

@FishJournals

@FishJournals · X

Sep 17, 2020 · 2 likes · 9,318 followers View post →

Patti Bressman

@p_bressman · X

RT @TheFSBI: Great video made by @NoahwithFish, covering the same topic as his recent publication in #JFB - walking catfish & chemotaxis! h…

Sep 13, 2020 · 4 shares · 37 followers View post →

Nonato Mendes Júnior

@MendesJunior30 · X

RT @TheFSBI: Great video made by @NoahwithFish, covering the same topic as his recent publication in #JFB - walking catfish & chemotaxis! h…

Sep 12, 2020 · 4 shares · 333 followers View post →

Colin Bean

@ProfColinBean · X

RT @TheFSBI: Great video made by @NoahwithFish, covering the same topic as his recent publication in #JFB - walking catfish & chemotaxis! h…

Sep 12, 2020 · 4 shares · 2,825 followers View post →

William Perry fishsci.com/@DrWillPerry

@DrWillPerry · X

RT @TheFSBI: Great video made by @NoahwithFish, covering the same topic as his recent publication in #JFB - walking catfish & chemotaxis! h…

Sep 12, 2020 · 4 shares · 1,515 followers View post →

fsbi

@TheFSBI · X

Great video made by @NoahwithFish, covering the same topic as his recent publication in #JFB - walking catfish & chemotaxis! https://t.co/E6Z3yqpsK0 Publication here

Sep 12, 2020 · 6 likes · 4 shares · 4,587 followers View post →

Cara

@CaraJDavis · X

RT @wfubiology: New paper alert! Dr. @NoahwithFish (@WakeForest PhD alum '20) recently published the third chapter of his dissertation in t…

Aug 26, 2020 · 2 shares · 78 followers View post →

原　拓史

@haltaq · X

RT @watanak_tweet: 陸上で匂いがわかる魚．フロリダの外来種のヒレナマズ． Why did the invasive walking catfish cross the road? Terrestrial chemoreception described for…

Aug 20, 2020 · 6 shares · 3,486 followers View post →

さすらいch/Sasurai ch

@sasuraich · X

RT @watanak_tweet: 陸上で匂いがわかる魚．フロリダの外来種のヒレナマズ． Why did the invasive walking catfish cross the road? Terrestrial chemoreception described for…

Aug 20, 2020 · 6 shares · 2,513 followers View post →

Masa-aki Yoshida

@yoshidamasaaki · X

RT @watanak_tweet: 陸上で匂いがわかる魚．フロリダの外来種のヒレナマズ． Why did the invasive walking catfish cross the road? Terrestrial chemoreception described for…

Aug 20, 2020 · 6 shares · 2,867 followers View post →

蟲喰ロトワ (むしくろとわ)@TAKEO株式会社CSO

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RT @watanak_tweet: 陸上で匂いがわかる魚．フロリダの外来種のヒレナマズ． Why did the invasive walking catfish cross the road? Terrestrial chemoreception described for…

Aug 20, 2020 · 6 shares · 16,594 followers View post →

Katsutoshi Watanabe

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Aug 20, 2020 · 7 likes · 6 shares · 4,705 followers View post →

Wake Forest University

@WakeForest · X

RT @wfubiology: New paper alert! Dr. @NoahwithFish (@WakeForest PhD alum '20) recently published the third chapter of his dissertation in t…

Aug 11, 2020 · 2 shares · 38,797 followers View post →

WFU Biology

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Aug 11, 2020 · 4 likes · 2 shares · 741 followers View post →

Helen Gavaghan. UK. Photo+Digital Art by me.

@HelenGavaghan · X

Why did the invasive walking catfish cross the road? Terrestrial chemoreception described for the first time in a fish https://t.co/n05nAGCpCW

Aug 8, 2020 · 1,209 followers View post →

@FishJournals

@FishJournals · X

RT @FishJournals: Why did the invasive walking catfish cross the road? Terrestrial chemoreception described for the first time in a fish Jo…

Aug 6, 2020 · 1 share · 9,318 followers View post →

S. quinqueradiata

@FNinKochi · X

RT @te_no_ji: ウォーキングキャットフィッシュは陸上を移動すると言われているが、全貌は良く分かっていなかった。実験的に陸上移動を調べると、池の水やアラニンに正の走化性。フロリダで住民への聞き取りやYouTube映像を調べると、夏の豪雨の際に側溝から出てくることが多か…

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MUKAI, T.

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レオパ

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Why did the invasive walking catfish cross the road? Terrestrial chemoreception described for the first time in a fish.

Mentions per month

Where it's discussed

What people are saying

Abstract in brief

Top posts

All mentions

Invasive Walking Catfish Use Chemical Cues for Land Navigation