| Bagridae | |
|---|---|
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| Hemibagrus planiceps | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Superfamily: | Bagroidea |
| Family: | Bagridae Bleeker, 1858 |
| Genera | |
Bagrichthys
| |
TheBagridae are afamily ofcatfish that are native toAfrica (Bagrus) andAsia (all other genera) fromJapan toBorneo.[3] It includes about 245 species. These fish are commonly known asnaked catfishes orbagrid catfishes.
Many large bagrids are important as a source of food. Some species are also kept as aquarium fishes.[3]
The dorsal fin is preceded by a spine. The adipose fin is present and can have a relatively long base in some species. The pectoral fin spine can be serrated. The body is completely naked (they have no scales). The maximum length is about 1.5 m (4.9 ft).[3] Fishes of the family Bagridae have four pairs of well-developedbarbels covered by a layer oftaste bud-enrichedepithelium.[4]
The taxonomy of this family has changed rapidly. Nelson (2006) comments how "the family is very different from that recognized in Nelson (1994)".Claroteidae andAustroglanididae contain species that were previously bagrids. Auchenoglanididae is considered by some sources to be a subfamily of Claroteidae and by others to be its own family, sister toHeptapteridae. In addition some authorities place the genusHorabagrus in the familyHorabagridae[5] together with two genera which are currently normally regarded as being in theSchilbeidae.[6]
It is unclear whether or not the family is monophyletic, and what its relationship to other catfishes might be.[3]
Authority control databases: National |
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