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Striped catfish. View of a school of juvenile striped catfish, Plotosus lineatus, near the sea bed. These fish inhabit coral reefs and are one of the few marine species of catfish. When young they are often found in very large schools, such as the one seen here. In adulthood they become more solitary. The striped catfish grows to about 30 cm in length and has four pairs of mouth barbels to feel and taste food. They are extremely poisonous fish with venomous stings at the front of the dorsal fin and each of the pectoral fins. Wounds from these stings may be dangerous to humans and even fatal in rare cases. Photographed on the Ningaloo Reef, western Australia. (KEYSTONE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/RUDIGER LEHNEN) === ===