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 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.
Guinea-Bissau is a West-African country rich in biodiversity.
The name upside-down catfish is most commonly used by aquarists to refer to the mochokid catfish Synodontis nigriventris alternately known to ichthyologists as the blotched upside-down catfish or false upside-down catfish. However, a number of other fish may also be known by this name:
Chrysichthys is a genus of claroteid catfishes native to Africa. Two fossil species are known. Chrysichthys macrotis, Van Neer, 1994, is known from the Miocene-Pliocene of the Albertine Rift in Uganda and Chrysichthys mahengeensis, Murray & Budney, 2003, is known from the Eocene of Mahenge, Tanzania.
Phractura is a genus of loach catfishes that occur in Africa.
The Guinean bichir is a ray-finned fish from rivers and other freshwater habitats in Western Africa, ranging from Guinea-Bissau to Nigeria. It reaches a maximum length of 72 cm (28 in), is greenish-brown to black in color, and has large, dark spots and blotches on its sides. On mature specimens, the bottom jaw may protrude very slightly. It is similar to some other bichirs with which it can be confused.
Synodontis ansorgii is a species of upside-down catfish native to rivers of Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone. This species grows to a length of 27.6 centimetres (10.9 in) TL.
Citharidium ansorgii is a species of lutefish found in the Niger River basin in Nigeria and also reported from Cameroon. It is the only member of its genus. Its conservation status is least concern. The only known threats which could negatively affect the population of this species are oil studies in the Lower Delta and potential impact of the invasive water hyacinth in the inland delta.
William John Ansorge was a physician who worked in Angola and Uganda and is known for exploring the fauna of the African region. A large number of species have been named after him based on the specimens that he collected and sent back to England.
Bauerius ansorgii is a species of gecko, a lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is indigenous to the west coast of Southern Africa.
Claus Herluf Stenholt Clausen was a Danish ichthyologist, known for his work on the river fish of West Africa. Although often cited as H. S. Clausen, he published as H. Stenholt Clausen, with the compound surname Stenholt Clausen. He worked for many years at the University College of Ibadan in Nigeria.
Phractura clauseni is a species of catfish in the genus Phractura that lives in freshwater rivers across West Africa. It is named in honor of Danish ichthyologist Herluf Stenholt Clausen.
Phractura lindica is a species of catfish in the genus Phractura. Its length is 9 cm SL. It lives in the Congo River system.
Phractura bovei is a species of catfish that lives in the Lower Congo River. It lives in a freshwater habitat. Its total recorded length is 11 cm.
Phractura fasciata is a species of catfish in the genus Phractura that is found in the Congo River. It has a size is 12.5 cm SL.
Phractura brevicauda is a species of catfish in the genus Phractura. The fish can be found in coastal rivers north of Ogowe River to Loeme River, as well as in the Lobi River and Kribi River, and the Lower Congo River.
Phractura macrura is a species of catfish in the genus Phractura. It is found in rivers in Angola. It has a length of 9.1 cm.
Nannopetersius ansorgii is a species of fish in the African tetra family, found in the central Rivers in Africa. The rivers in Africa are: the Benito (Mbini), the Chiloango, the Kouilou, the Loeme and the Ogooué rivers of Gabon and Equatorial Guinea and the Bengo and Congo River basins of Angola and Democratic Republic of the Congo. This species reaches a length of 7.0 cm (2.8 in).
Epiplatys ansorgii is a species of fish in the family Nothobranchiidae, an African rivuline, native to fresh water habitats in the southern tributaries of the lower Ogowe River system and then southward to the lower Congo River system in West Africa. This species reaches a length of 8.0 cm (3.1 in).
