SCOTCAT.COM

your internet guide to all things catfish

Cetopsidae

Cetopsidae Commonly known as "Whale Catfishes" because of the origin of the first name Cetopis, meaning "looks like a whale". Three pairs of barbels (no nasals); no adipose fin; swim bladder highly reduced and enclosed in bony capsule; dorsal fin far forward; anal fin with 20-29 rays. Five genera, Cetopsis, Denticetopsis, Helegenes and Paracetopsis.

There are 42 species (2019) in this family and they are not too popular in the hobby due to their inactivity in the aquarium. One member of this genus the "Candiru" is a voracious predator on other wounded fish in its habitat, burying into the flesh of the animal.

SCIENTIFIC NAMES

Cetopsidium minutum

Cetopsidium pemon

Cetopsis candiru

Cetopsis coecutiens

Cetopsis fimbriata

Cetopsis gobioides

Cetopsis montana

Cetopsis motatanensis

Cetopsis oliveirai

Cetopsis orinoco

Cetopsis parma

Cetopsis plumbea

Cetopsis sandrae

Denticetopsis iwokrama

Denticetopsis praecox

Denticetopsis sauli

Denticetopsis seducta

Helogenes marmoratus

Paracetopsis atahualpa

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Scientific Names

Common Names

Synonyms

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