In The Catfish Connection, two leading scientific offer a groundbreaking ecological view of the Amazon as seen through some of its most curious and widespread animals: the large predatory catfish that dominate the river channels and estuary. While focusing primarily on two species of giant catfish - known locally as dourada and piramutaba - Ronaldo Barthem and Michael Goulding also present natural history summaries of thirteen large predatory fish found in Amazon river channels.

The Catfish Connection details the various methods employed by small-scale and commercial fishing operations in their exploitation of the commercially valuable resource. Barthem and Goulding propose the first realistic measures for the management of the commercial fisheries based on the large catfish.

This important study of the large catfishes and their integral place within the ecology of the estuary and inland waters of the Amazon will be an essential reference for marine and conservation biologists in the field, ecologists, scientists studying migration, and resource management professionals.