The most primitive living bony fishes, sturgeon and paddlefish, originated in the Jurassic era 225 million years ago. Catfish appeared well after, with the first fossil catfish (like the Andinichthyidae, a prehistoric family of catfishes from the Cretaceous to Eocene of South America) dating to the late Cretaceous about 70 million years ago.
Both saltwater and freshwater catfish stings are dangerous. Each type of catfish has three spines and a stinging apparatus. Significant morbidity may result from stings, including severe pain, retained foreign bodies, infection, respiratory compromise, arterial hypotension, and cardiac dysrhythmias.