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Striped catfish. Shoal of juvenile striped catfish (Plotosus lineatus). These fish inhabit the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region. Unlike most catfish they are not tolerant of fresh water, and rarely if ever enter rivers. They may reach a length of up to 30 centimetres when mature. These fish have poisonous spines in their fins which deter predators. Photographed off Mabul, Malaysia. (KEYSTONE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/MATTHEW OLDFIELD, SCUBAZOO) === ===