Catfish families

Siluridae is the nominate family of catfishes in the order Siluriformes. About 105 living species of silurids are placed in 12 or 14 genera.

Loricariidae is the largest family of catfish (order Siluriformes), with over 90 genera and just over 680 species. Loricariids originate from freshwater habitats of Costa Rica, Panama, and tropical and subtropical South America. These fish are noted for the bony plates covering their bodies and their suckermouths. Several genera are sold as "plecos", notably the suckermouth catfish, Hypostomus plecostomus, and are popular as aquarium fish.

The Bagridae are a family of catfish that are native to Africa (Bagrus) and Asia (all other genera) from Japan to Borneo. It includes about 245 species. These fish are commonly known as naked catfishes or bagrid catfishes.

The Ictaluridae, sometimes called ictalurids, are a family of catfish native to North America, where they are an important food source and sometimes fished for sport. The family includes about 51 species, some commonly known as bullheads, madtoms, channel catfish, and blue catfish.

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.

Callichthyidae is a family of catfishes (order Siluriformes), called armored catfishes due to the two rows of bony plates (or scutes) along the lengths of their bodies. It contains some of the most popular freshwater aquarium fish, such as many species in the genus Corydoras.

The Mochokidae are a family of catfishes (order Siluriformes) that are known as the squeakers or upside-down catfish (although not all species swim upside-down). Nine genera and about 200 species of mochokids are described. All the mochokids are freshwater species originating from Africa.

The Pimelodidae, commonly known as the long-whiskered catfishes, are a family of catfishes (order Siluriformes) native to South America. The family has a wide variety of body plans, and include the largest South American catfish species, the piraíba. Many species, including the piraíba, are locally valued as food, and even more specia of Paisley are of interest to aquaria.

Sisoridae is a family of catfishes. These Asian catfishes live in fast-moving waters and often have adaptations that allow them to adhere to objects in their habitats. The family includes about 235 species.

Trichomycteridae is a family of catfishes commonly known as pencil catfishes or parasitic catfishes; though only certain species are parasitic, those are some of the few parasitic chordates known. This family is prohibited from being imported into various parts of the United States due to their reputation as parasites.

The Aspredinidae are a small South American family of catfishes (order Siluriformes) also known as the banjo catfishes, with about 43 species.

Schilbeidae is a family of catfishes native to Africa and Asia. These fish tend to swim in open water.

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 Amblycipitidae are a family of catfishes, commonly known as torrent catfishes. It includes four genera, Amblyceps, Liobagrus, Proliobagrus and Xiurenbagrus, and about 50 species.

The Claroteidae are a family of catfish (order Siluriformes) found in Africa. This family was separated from Bagridae. However, the monophyly of the family is sometimes contested.

The Cetopsidae, the whale catfishes are a small family of freshwater ray-finned fishes belonging to the order Siluriformes. The fishes in this family are found in South America.

REDIRECT Diplomystes

The Pseudopimelodidae are a small family (about 40 species) of catfishes known as the bumblebee catfishes or dwarf marbled catfishes. Some of these fish are popular aquarium fish.

The Heptapteridae, or three-barbeled catfishes, are a family of catfish that originate from the Americas. The name Heptapteridae is derived from Greek, hepta meaning seven and pteron meaning fin; this is thought to be an allusion to the short distance between the adipose and caudal fins of Heptapterus mustelinus, the type species of the family's type genus, which gives the appearance that it has 7 instead of 8 fins in total.

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.

species of fish

Ailiidae is a family of catfishes native to Asia. These fishes usually have dorsal fins with a short base and a spine, but Ailia lack a dorsal fin altogether.

REDIRECT Austroglanis

Horabagridae is a family of catfishes containing four genera, Horabagrus, Pachypterus, Platytropius and Pseudeutropius. Horobagrus has been more usually assigned to the family Bagridae and sometimes it has been suggested it is closer to the Schilbeidae which is where the other two genera have been more conventionally placed. However, more recent taxonomic treatments continue to place it as close to the Bagridae and Ailiidae.

REDIRECT Astroblepus

Auchenoglanididae, also known as flatnose catfishes, is a family of catfish native to freshwater habitats in tropical Africa. They were previously considered a subfamily of the family Claroteidae, but are now generally treated as a distinct family. The monophyly of Auchenoglanidinae is uncontested.

Andinichthyidae is a prehistoric family of basal catfishes from the Cretaceous to Eocene of South America.