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 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 Anchariidae are a family of catfishes containing two genera, Ancharius and Gogo with 6 species. Anchariids are a strictly freshwater group endemic to Madagascar. Anchariids are characterized by the presence of fringed barbels and a reduced anterior nuchal plate.
Pseudomystus is a genus of catfishes of the family Bagridae.
Cathorops is a genus of catfishes in the family Ariidae found in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. These species are found in the eastern and western Central and South America in brackish and freshwater habitats. This genus is a strongly supported clade of this family. It consists of a natural group in which the monophyly is well-defined by morphological and molecular evidence and the genus probably includes several unrecognized species from both American coasts.
Madtoms are freshwater catfishes of the genus Noturus of the family Ictaluridae. It is the most species-rich family of catfish in North America, native to the central and eastern United States, and adjacent parts of Canada. Their fin spines contain a mild venom with a sting comparable to that of a honey bee.
Cinetodus froggatti, known as Froggatt's catfish or smallmouthed salmon catfish, is a species of sea catfish found in West Papua in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea where it is found in the Purari, Fly, Strickland and Digul River systems as well as in the Roper River system of Northwest Territories, Australia.
Clupeoides is a genus of sprats that occur in rivers in Southeast Asia. There are currently four recognized species in the genus.
Galeichthys is a genus of sea catfishes in the family Ariidae, the only genus in the subfamily Galeichthyinae. It includes four predominantly marine species distributed in Southern Africa and northwestern South America:
Amissidens hainesi, the ridged catfish, is the only species of catfish in the genus Amissidens of the family Ariidae. This species occurs in marine and brackish waters on the southern coast of New Guinea and Northern Australia, between Darwin and southern Gulf of Carpentaria.
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.
Batrachocephalus mino, the beardless sea catfish, is the only species of catfish in the genus Batrachocephalus of the family Ariidae. This species occurs in marine and brackish waters of Bay of Bengal, and parts of the western central Pacific, in coastal waters, estuaries, and lower reaches of rivers. It is distributed from Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Malaysia, Thailand, to Indonesia.
Cochlefelis is a genus of sea catfishes found in coastal and freshwaters from Southeast Asia to Australia. There are currently four described species in this genus.
Nedystoma is a genus of sea catfishes endemic to the island of New Guinea where they are found in fresh and brackish waters in both the Indonesian portion and in Papua New Guinea. There are currently two described species in this genus.
Netuma is a genus of sea catfishes found in the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean where it occurs in marine, brackish and fresh waters from the coasts of Africa to Australia to China. There are currently four recognized species in this genus.
Notarius is a genus of fish in the family Ariidae found in the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean.
The comb-spined catfish is a species of catfish in the family Ariidae. It was described by Max Carl Wilhelm Weber in 1913, originally under the genus Arius. It is known to inhabit freshwater rivers in New Guinea. It reaches a standard length of 40 cm (16 in). Its diet includes prawns, detritus, and a variety of terrestrial and aquatic insects and insect larvae.
The thick-lipped catfish is a species of catfish in the family Ariidae. It was described by Edward Pierson Ramsay and James Douglas Ogilby in 1886, originally under the genus Hemipimelodus. It is found in freshwater rivers in New Guinea. It reaches a standard length of 50 cm (20 in). Its diet consists of insects and vascular plants.
The duckbilled catfish, alternatively spelled as the duck-billed catfish, is a species of catfish in the family Ariidae. It was described by Edward Pierson Ramsay and James Douglas Ogilby in 1886, originally under the genus Arius. It inhabits turbid freshwater rivers in New Guinea. It reaches a standard length of 60 cm (24 in). Its diet consists of prawns in the genera Caridina and Macrobrachium.
The Day's catfish is a species of catfish in the family Ariidae. It was described by Edward Pierson Ramsay and James Douglas Ogilby in 1886, originally under the genus Hemipimelodus. It inhabits turbid freshwater rivers in New Guinea. It reaches a maximum standard length of 20 cm (7.9 in). Its diet consists of the larvae of aquatic insects.
