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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, Cetopsidium, Denticetopsis, Helegenes and Paracetopsis.

There are 43 described species (2025) 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.

 

SYNONYMS
Scientific Names > Common Names > Synonyms > Image Contributors

B
Bathycetopsis oliveirai
 
C
Cetopsis chalmersi
Cetopsis macroteronema
Cetopsis occidentalis
Cetopsis plumbeus
Cetopsis spixii
Cetopsis ventralis
 
H
Helogenes amazonae
Helogenes unidorsalis
Hemicetopsis amphiloxus
Hemicetopsis candiru
Hemicetopsis minutus
Hemicetopsis plumbeus
Hemicetopsis plumbeus orinoco
 
P
Pseudocetopsis baudoênsis
Pseudocetopsis chalmersi
Pseudocetopsis gobioides
Pseudocetopsis macropteronema
Pseudocetopsis macroteronema
Pseudocetopsis orinoco
Pseudocetopsis plumbeus motatanensis
Pseudocetopsis plumbea
Pseudocetopsis plumbeus
Pseudocetopsis plumbeus orinoco
Pseudocetopsis praecox
 
S
Silurus caecutiens
Silurus coecutiens
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