Abstract: The present paper deals with the embryonic and larval developmentof channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). The fertilized eggs of the catfish are tran-sparent, orange in colour and adhesive. The average diameter of eggs is 3.457mm.The feritlized eggs hatched out in 146 hours and 56 minutes (about 6 days) at thewater temperature of 25.5--29℃. Newly hatched larva attains a length of 7.89--8.13mm are golden-yellowishwith the yolk sac pinkish light amber in colour. The larva begins to feed at 4 daysand its morphogenesis completes at 10 days after hatching. Lens, ocular pigmenta-tion, smell vesicles, heart beating, inner ears, tail, anlage of pectoral fins, bloodcirculation and erthrocyte, gill arches, gill filamento and the anlage of gill covers,digestive tract, anus and livers all complete before hatching.