What is a spotted Raphael catfish?

The spotted Raphael catfish is a popular aquarium species of the Doradidae family. Native to South American rivers, it is identified by the irregular pattern of brilliant white to pale yellow spots on its dark brown to black body.

Tolerant of most water conditions, the peaceful bottom feeder reaches a maximum size of 8 inches in captivity. The fish is nocturnal, preferring to burrow among soft river bottoms and plant cover in the wild. Also known as the "spotted talking catfish," it is unique in that it croaks or "clicks" when removed from water by moving its pectoral fins across grooves in its shoulder.