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.
Airbreathing catfish are fish comprising the family Clariidae of the order Siluriformes. About 14 genera and about 116 species of clariids are described. All the clariids are freshwater species. Note that other groups of catfish also breathe air, such as the Callichthyidae and Loricariidae.
The Mochokidae are a family of catfishes that are known as the squeakers and upside-down catfish. There are nine genera and about 200 species of mochokids. All the mochokids are freshwater species originating from Africa.
The Ariidae or ariid catfish are a family of catfish that mainly live in marine waters with many freshwater and brackish water species. They are found worldwide in tropical to warm temperate zones. The family includes about 143 species.
The Bagridae are a family of catfish that are native to Africa (Bagrus) and Asia from Japan to Borneo. It includes about 245 species. These fish are commonly known as naked catfishes or bagrid catfishes.
The loach catfishes are a family, Amphiliidae, of catfishes. They are widespread in tropical Africa, but are most common in streams at high elevations; most species are able to cling to rocks in fast-flowing streams. The 13 genera contain 68 species.
Pseudobarbus is a ray-finned fish genus in the family Cyprinidae. The type species is Burchell's Redfin. The scientific name is derived from the Ancient Greek pseudes ("false") and the Latin word barbus. This genus contains some of the South African redfins. It was originally proposed as a subgenus but has since been found worthy of recognition as a full genus.
The clanwilliam rock-catfish is a species of catfish in the family Austroglanididae. It is endemic to South Africa.
The rock-catfish, Austroglanis sclateri, is a species of catfish in the family Austroglanididae. This freshwater fish is endemic to the Vaal River in South Africa. It is also found in Lesotho and Namibia.
Paramphilius is a genus of loach catfishes found in Africa.
Galeichthys is a genus of sea catfishes. The only genus in the subfamily Galeichthyinae, this genus includes four species.
Arius is a genus of catfishes of the family Ariidae. The genus Arius is distributed in brackish and fresh waters of Eastern Africa and south to Southeast Asia.
Synodontis petricola, known as the cuckoo catfish, or the pygmy leopard catfish, is a species of upside-down catfish endemic to Burundi, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Tanzania where it is only known from Lake Tanganyika. It was first described by Belgian ichthyologist Hubert Matthes in 1959. The species name "petricola" is derived from a combination of the Latin petra, meaning stone or rock, and the Latin cola, meaning inhabitant. This refers to the rocky environment where this species is found.
Microsynodontis emarginata is a species of upside-down catfish endemic to Gabon where it occurs in the Ogowe River. It was first described in 2004 by Ng Heok Hee.
Microsynodontis hirsuta is a species of upside-down catfish endemic to Gabon where it occurs in the Ntem River. It was first described in 2004 by Ng Heok Hee.
Synodontis clarias, known as the red tailed synodontis, or the mandi, is a species of upside-down catfish that occurs widely in the waters of northern Africa. It was first described by Swedish zoologist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 as Silurus clarias. The original specimens were obtained in Egypt, near Cairo. The meaning of the species name clarias is not certain, but may possibly have been used to mean "bright" or "clear".
Synodontis geledensis, known as the Geledi squeaker, is a species of upside-down catfish that is native to Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia where it can be found in the Lorian Swamp, the Shebelle and Ewaso Ng'iro rivers. It was first described by German zoologist Albert Günther in 1896, from specimens obtained near Geledi, on the Shebeli River in east Africa. The species name geledensis comes from Geledi, Somalia, the location where the first specimens were first found.
Synodontis macrostoma, known as the largemouth squeaker, is a species of upside-down catfish that is native to Namibia and Zambia where it is found in the Kafue, upper Zambezi, Okavango and Cunene Rivers. It was first described by Paul H. Skelton and Peter N. White in 1990. The original specimens were obtained in Upper Zambezi River at Katima Mulilo, Caprivi, Namibia. The species name macrostoma means "large mouth", which refers to its distinctive large mouth.
Synodontis sorex is a species of upside-down catfish that is widely distributed in the rivers of northern Africa. It was first described by German zoologist Albert Günther in 1864, from specimens obtained in the upper Nile River, near Khartoum, Sudan. The species name sorex comes from the Latin word for shrew or shrew-mouse, the allusion was not explained. It possibly describes the pointed snout or the long, slender teeth.
