Physically they are short to medium in stature, with wide variations in height ranging from 3.5 to 5 feet. They have cylindrical bodies with short legs and tails (or caudal fins). A distinctive feature of catfish is the large, flattened head always surrounded by four barbs, which are particularly longer in males. Catfish have no scales and their bodies are "naked", with color that depends on each individual but is generally dark, brown, or yellow. They reproduce by oviparity, with females laying a pair of eggs in a grassy basin after fertilization occurs through sexual acts. Also, like other members of the Gilled subgenus, they have developed a double breathing system, thanks to a sort of primitive lung similar to that of animal-lungfish. They can live out of water for even up to ten days, but they have a constant need to fully bathe their bodies at least once a day.

The Catfish people developed in culture and wealth very quickly, largely due to their relatively isolated and favorable position. The wide marshes of their territory are far enough from Isilka's migratory routes and overlook warm waters, thus favoring their constant and plentiful trading along the coasts of more than one continent.
They set up their politics on semi-autonomous cities of an oligarchic nature, generally administered by the wealthiest merchant families, although it's often defined as a mob-type system, due to a recurrent use of coercion, corruption, and omerta. In the past, however, they've also attracted many enemies, from trade rivals to greedy pirates, which led to armed clashes. One of the most important clashes was the naval war against Yalathon. Coaxed that they could subjugate Catfishes, the Shark people attacked Ym'faal and almost managed to conquer it. However, they made a mistake by attempting to plunder Anonca, the Otters' island. Thus, during this war, a farsighted Catfish mayor encouraged many cities to unite in seeking an alliance in Anonca that would last well beyond the end of the war.

The Catfish people culture is closely linked to trade and cultural exchanges, collecting and assimilating a bit of everything, so much so that their true society has probably been lost over centuries. However, they are mainly dedicated to fish farming, herbalism, and alchemy. They also have a keen dedication to importing musical and theatrical arts, which they make their own with great ease.

They speak the Itthen language, common to all Anthro fish races, a guttural language accompanied by strong facial expressions, understandable even underwater where sounds are less easy to hear (perhaps a Japanese gibberish).

Religiously they are mostly devoted to Ekoari (deity of commerce and science), Teeje (deity of navigation and looting), and Cilldyn (deity of stars and exploration), but here and there also thrive the cult of Dekar (deity of pride and wealth), Jimbasi (deity of honor and nobility), Caamiran (deity of justice and cities), and Lotru-Kori (deity of madness and nightmares).

Their ancestral princes were Thande and Veatrice, who taught their race the culture of mud and waste. By staying calm and cautious in one's area, wallowing and rummaging in the mud, one can discover great treasures that others lose or don't know how to properly value. A Catfish can be able to give value to anything they find on the muddy bottom, but rushing into too turbulent waters risks losing themselves too.

Footnote
Typical of the Catfish people is the use of a strange boat called jedrilica, a vessel with a very narrow and low keel, designed more for navigation on river and marsh than on open sea, and featured by large tarpaulins to protect from heat and sun, as well as sideway and underlying sails to exploit water currents instead of air.