Catfish are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the three largest species alive, the Mekong giant catfish from Southeast Asia, the wels catfish of Eurasia, and the piraíba of South America, to detritivores, and even to a tiny parasitic species commonly called the candiru, Vandellia cirrhosa. Neither the armour-plated types nor the naked types have scales. Despite their name, not all catfish have prominent barbels or "whiskers". Members of the Siluriformes order are defined by features of the skull and swimbladder. Catfish are of considerable commercial importance; many of the larger species are farmed or fished for food. Many of the smaller species, particularly the genus Corydoras, are important in the aquarium hobby. Many catfish are nocturnal, but others are crepuscular or diurnal.
The walking catfish is a species of freshwater airbreathing catfish native to Southeast Asia. It is named for its ability to "walk" and wiggle across dry land, to find food or suitable environments. While it does not truly walk as most bipeds or quadrupeds do, it can use its pectoral fins to keep it upright as it makes a wiggling motion with snakelike movements to traverse land. This fish normally lives in slow-moving and often stagnant waters in ponds, swamps, streams, and rivers, as well as in flooded rice paddies, or temporary pools that may dry up. When this happens, its "walking" skill allows the fish to move to other aquatic environments. Considerable taxonomic confusion surrounds this species and it has frequently been confused with other close relatives. One main distinction between the walking catfish and the native North American ictalurid catfish with which it sometimes is confused, is that the walking catfish lacks an adipose fin.
Clarias is a genus of catfishes of the family Clariidae, the airbreathing catfishes. The name is derived from the Greek chlaros, which means lively, in reference to the ability of the fish to live for a long time out of water.
Pterygoplichthys, sometimes collectively known as janitor fish, is a genus of South American armored catfishes. These fish are commonly known as sailfin armoured catfish or sailfin plecs, especially in the aquarium trade.
Synodontis is the largest genus of mochokid catfishes. It is the biggest genus within the 10 genera and 190 different species in the family Mochokidae. Synodontis has over 131 different species within the genus. Synodontis are also known as squeakers, due to their ability to make stridulatory sounds through their pectoral fin spines when handled or disturbed. Synodontis make a sound that sounds like squeaking by rubbing their spines together. They do this when they have been frightened or when they become angry. Synodontis may also squeak when they are taken out of the water. These catfish are small- to medium-sized fish with many species exhibiting attractive spotted markings. Some species are also known for naturally swimming belly-up, earning the name upside-down catfish. Some of these species are Synodontis contractus and Synodontis nigriventris. While some of these species are known to swim upside down, another species, Synodontis multipunctatus, is a brood parasitic cuckoo catfish,there are two other species Synodontis petricola and Synodontis grandiops are also called brood parasitic cuckoo catfish.
The marbled mountain catfish is a species of fish in the family Amphiliidae. It is found in Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Its natural habitat is rivers.
Amphilius is a genus of catfishes of the family Amphiliidae.
Lothar Seegers was a German ichthyologist. Seegers authored 9 species within the family of Rivulidae.
Amphilius atesuensis is a species of catfish in the genus Amphilius. Its length reaches 9.3 cm. It lives from the Saint John River in Liberia to the Mono River in Togo.
Amphilius athiensis is a species of catfish in the genus Amphilius. It lives in the Athi and Galana River system. Its length reaches 16 cm.
Amphilius brevis is a species of catfish in the genus Amphilius. It lives in the middle and upper Congo River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its length reaches 8.4 cm.
Amphilius caudosignatus is a species of catfish in the genus Amphilius.
Amphilius cryptobullatus is a species of catfish in the genus Amphilius. It is endemic to the Luongo River in the upper Congo system in Zambia. Its length reaches 13.5 cm.
Amphilius dimonikensis is a species of catfish in the genus Amphilius. It is endemic to the Mpoulou River in Mayombe, Republic of the Congo. Its length reaches 5.6 cm.
Amphilius kakrimensis is a species of catfish in the genus Amphilius. It is found in the Kolenté River and Kakrima River, a tributary of the Kolenté River, in Guinea. Its length reaches 4.2 cm.
Amphilius kivuensis is a species of catfish in the genus Amphilius. It is found in rivers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania. Its length reaches 10.6 cm.
Amphilius korupi is a species of catfish in the genus Amphilius. It is found in coastal streams in northwestern Cameroon. Its length reaches 6.5 cm.
Amphilius opisthophthalmus is a species of catfish in the genus Amphilius. It is found in Oshwe on the Lukenie River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its length reaches 8.4 cm (3.3 in).
Amphilius lamani is a species of catfish in the genus Amphilius. It is found in the lower Congo River. Its length reaches 9.6 cm.
Amphilius lampei is a species of catfish in the genus Amphilius. It is found in tributaries of the Shebelle River near Harar. Its length reaches 10 cm.
