Unlike female mammals who have menstrual periods, catfish, a species with distinct reproductive traits, do not experience such a phenomenon. Catfish have an asynchronous reproductive cycle, where females gradually mature and release eggs in batches, rather than a synchronized cycle with uterine lining breakdown and bleeding. When ready to spawn, female catfish deposit large quantities of eggs in prepared nests and engage in short-term parental care. After hatching, the independent larvae feed on microorganisms until reaching adulthood. This reproductive strategy allows catfish to reproduce efficiently and maintain stable populations in diverse aquatic environments.
