| Whale catfishes | |
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| Helogenes marmoratus | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Suborder: | Siluroidei |
| Superfamily: | Cetopsoidea |
| Family: | Cetopsidae Bleeker, 1858 |
| Genera | |
Subfamily Cetopsinae Contents | |
The Cetopsidae are a small family of catfishes (order Siluriformes), commonly called the whale catfishes. [1]
This family contains five genera divided into two subfamilies, Cetopsinae and Helogeneinae. [1] Helogeneinae was previously a family-level group, but now it has been reclassified as a subfamily of Cetopsidae. This subfamily contains four species in the genus Helogenes . [1] The subfamily Cetopsinae contains four genera. Cetopsidium contains six species, Cetopsis contains 21 species, Denticetopsis contains seven species, and Paracetopsis contains three species; this makes a total of 37 cetopsines. [2] The genera have been changed as recently as 2005 with the genera Bathycetopsis, Hemicetopsis, and Pseudocetopsis set in synonymy with Cetopsis and the description of the new genus Cetopsidium. [2]
Cetopsidium is the sister group to the rest of Cetopsinae. Denticetopsis forms the next sister group to the remaining cetopsine genera. The tribes Cetopsidiini, Denticetopsini, and Cetopsini are erected for the cetopsine genera. [3]
Cetopsids have a wide distribution in South America. Latitudinally, cetopsines extend from northern Colombia to central Argentina. They inhabit major habitats such as the Orinoco River, Amazon River, and the Guyanas. [2] In trans-Andean South America, cetopsines are found along the Pacific slope from the Jurubidá River of Colombia south to the Tumbes River of northern Peru. Along the Caribbean trans-Andean versant, species of cetopsines occur from the Sinú River of northwestern Colombia east to the Lake Maracaibo basin of northwestern Venezuela. East of the Andean Cordilleras, the Cetopsinae occur in the Aroa and Yaracuy River basins along the Caribbean versant of northern Venezuela, through the Orinoco River system and the coastal rivers of the Guianas, south through the Amazon basin to the southern portions of the Río de la Plata basin. Cetopsines also occur in the Juquiá River basin of the state of São Paulo and the São Francisco River basin of eastern Brazil. [4] Helogenes, the single genus of Helogeneinae, occurs through much of the Amazon basin, the southern portions of the Orinoco River basin, the coastal rivers of the Guianas, and at least the lower portions of the Tocantins River. [4]
The family Cetopsidae includes species of small- to medium-sized catfishes which share an anal fin with a long base, the lack of nasal barbels, and, usually, a lack of dorsal and pectoral fin spines. In Cetopsinae, the swim bladder is highly reduced and is enclosed in a bony capsule. [1] Cetopsines lack an adipose fin, while it may be present (though small) in Helogeneinae. [1] Many species are characterized by small eyes obscured by a thick, overlying integument that make them appear blind. [2] The dorsal and pectoral fins usually lack spines, except in Cetopsidium (both present) and Denticetopsis (only pectoral spines present). [2] In most species of Cetopsis and Cetopsidium, mature males have a convex margin to their anal fin and elongated distal filaments of the dorsal and pectoral fin spines. [2]
The maximum length of this family is about 26 cm (10 in) SL in Cetopsinae. [1] Cetopsidium species are generally smaller in body size than Cetopsis. [2] The maximum length in Helogenes species is 7 cm (2.8 in). [1]
Most cetopsids feed on insects. [2] C. candiru and C. coecutiens are well known to have extremely voracious appetites. These fish will attack carrion, other living fish while in gillnets, and even people. [2] Some people erroneously believe these fish are parasitic like parasitic catfishes. [2]
Callichthyidae is a family of catfishes, called armored catfishes due to the two rows of bony plates along the lengths of their bodies. It contains some of the most popular freshwater aquarium fish, such as many species in the genus Corydoras.
Trichomycteridae is a family of catfishes commonly known as pencil catfishes or parasitic catfishes. This family includes the candiru fish, feared by some people for its alleged habit of entering into the urethra of humans. They are one of the few parasitic chordates. Another species is the life monsefuano which was important to the Moche culture and still an important part of Peruvian cuisine.
The Doradidae are a family of catfishes also known as thorny catfishes, raphael catfishes or talking catfishes. These fish are native to South America, primarily the Amazon basin and the Guianas.
The Aspredinidae are a small South American family of catfishes also known as the banjo catfishes, with about 43 species.
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.
Trichomycterus is a genus of fish in the family Trichomycteridae, the largest genus of its family with over 170 species currently described. This genus is native to freshwater habitats in Central and South America. These fish are generally small, usually about 5 to 15 cm (2–6 in) in standard length, although the largest, T. rivulatus, can reach more than twice this size. Species differ from one another primarily in body proportions, fin ray counts and colouration. Despite their relatively small size, some, such as T. punctulatus, support fisheries and are important in the local cuisine.
Sorubim is a small genus of long-whiskered catfish native to tropical South America. A number of characteristics allows the differentiation of each species in the genus. Sorubim species are important food fish in South America and are highly significant to fisheries of some areas; however, harvests of these fish are not identified as much as other, more popular food fishes such as Colossoma, Arapaima, and Brachyplatystoma. Some species of this family are popular aquarium fish.
Phreatobius is a genus of very small catfishes from tropical South America.
Brachyplatystoma is a genus of catfish from the family Pimelodidae. As the occasionally used common name goliath catfishes indicates, this genus includes some of the largest species of catfish, including the piraíba, B. filamentosum, which reaches up to the region of 3.6 metres (12 ft) in length. Brachyplatystoma are found in the Amazon and Orinoco basins, and other tropical freshwater and brackish habitats in South America. Some species are migratory. These fish are important as food fish and, to some extent, aquarium fish.
Nannoptopoma is a small genus of catfishes of the family Loricariidae. This genus includes two species, N. spectabile and N. sternoptychum.
Helogenes is a genus of whale catfish found in tropical South America.
Cetopsidium is a genus of catfishes of the family Cetopsidae.
Paracetopsis is a genus of whale catfishes found in tropical South America.
Denticetopsis is a genus of catfishes of the family Cetopsidae.
Cetopsis is a genus of catfishes of the family Cetopsidae.
Auchenipterus is a genus of driftwood catfishes.
Denticetopsis praecox is a species of whale catfish endemic to Venezuela where it is known from the Baria River of the upper Rio Negro basin. This species grows to a length of 5.3 cm.
Denticetopsis royeroi is a species of whale catfish endemic to Venezuela where it is only known from the holotype collected in a tributary to the upper Rio Negro. This species grows to a length of 1.8 cm.
Denticetopsis seducta is a species of whale catfish endemic to Brazil where it has a relatively wide, albeit scattered, distribution in the central and western portions of the Amazon basin and possibly the southwestern portions of the Orinoco River basin; it is relatively disjunct from the other species of Denticetopsis. It grows to a length of 5.1 cm.
Cetopsis candiru, also known as candiru, candiru açú, candiru cobra or canero, is a carnivorous species of whale catfish found in the Amazon basin of Peru, Brazil and Bolivia. Similar to Cetopsis coecutiens, Cetopsis candiru is a large species of the genus Cetopsis and a widespread scavenger, known for its voracious feeding and the habit of burrowing into the carcasses of dead animals and humans. Despite its name, it is not closely related to the bloodsucking Candiru.
| Authority control databases: National |
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