Plural of barbel; thin, whisker-like sensory organs that hang from the mouths of certain fish, or a type of fish with these organs.
From Old French 'barbel,' derived from Latin 'barba' meaning 'beard.' The name refers to the beard-like appearance of these sensory filaments that help fish taste and navigate murky water.
Catfish use their barbels like underwater taste buds—they can sense food in complete darkness by feeling the water with these whiskers, which is why they're such successful bottom-feeders.
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