Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Sep 29: Mugudu fish, popularly known as catfish in English, has been seeing high demand across the coastal region. Belonging to the catfish family, this unique species is found in several parts of the world, but the ones inhabiting Karnataka’s backwaters are particularly fascinating.

A peculiar aspect of these fish is their survival during dry seasons. Streams and rivulets in the region often run dry once the rains stop, raising curiosity about how these fish manage to survive. While birds like storks and water crows prey on fish stranded in drying water bodies, mugudu fish escape predation due to their slippery, jelly-like body surface, which makes them difficult to catch both for humans and animals.

The fish, which thrive mainly in freshwater, are found in muddy areas after the rains, often feeding on mud itself. Because they cannot be easily caught by hand, fishermen rely on nets to trap them.

Mugudu fish have become a highly sought-after delicacy in the coastal belt, selling at around Rs 200 per kilogram. Most of them weigh between 2 kg and 10 kg, making them a prized catch for both consumption and trade.