| Doradidae | |
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| Amblydoras monitor | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Superfamily: | Doradoidea |
| Family: | Doradidae Bleeker, 1858 |
| Genera [1] | |
Acanthodoras Contents | |
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.
Doradids are omnivorous. [4]
As of 2025 [update] , 31 genera and 106 species are in this family. [5] Wertheimeria is considered to be the sister taxon to all other doradids. [6] This family is monophyletic and contains the subfamilies Doradinae, Astrodoradinae and Wertheimerinae. [3]
The Astrodoradinae contain the genera Amblydoras , Anadoras , Astrodoras , Hypodoras , Physopyxis , and Scorpiodoras .
Doradids occur in most South American basins, though they are absent from the Pacific Coast drainages and from coastal drainages south of the Río de la Plata. [6] About 70% of the valid species occur in the Amazon basin; the Orinoco basin harbors about 22 species and ranks second in species richness. [6] Conversely, only two species of doradids have been described from Brazilian eastern coastal basins: Wertheimeria maculata from the Jequitinhonha and Pardo rivers and Kalyptodoras bahiensis from the Paraguaçu River. [6]
Doradids are easily recognized by a well-developed nuchal shield in front of the dorsal fin, as well as well-developed bony lumps along the lateral line that form thorny scutes. [7] Also, doradids typically have three pairs of barbels (no nasal barbels), an adipose fin, and four to six rays on the dorsal fin with a spine on the anterior (first) ray. [8] These fish are sometimes called "talking catfish" because of their ability to produce sound by moving their pectoral spine or vibrating their swim bladder. [8] Sizes range from 3.5 cm (1.4 in) SL in Physopyxis lyra to 120 cm (47 in) FL and 20 kg (44 lb) in Oxydoras niger . [6]
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