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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, 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.

SYNONYMS

Bathycetopsis oliveirai

Cetopsis chalmersi

Cetopsis macroteronema

Cetopsis occidentalis

Cetopsis plumbeus

Cetopsis spixii

Cetopsis ventralis

Helogenes amazonae

Helogenes unidorsalis

Hemicetopsis amphiloxus

Hemicetopsis candiru

Hemicetopsis minutus

Hemicetopsis plumbeus

Hemicetopsis plumbeus orinoco

Pseudocetopsis baudoênsis

Pseudocetopsis chalmersi

Pseudocetopsis gobioides

Pseudocetopsis macropteronema

Pseudocetopsis macroteronema

Pseudocetopsis orinoco

Pseudocetopsis plumbeus motatanensis

Pseudocetopsis plumbea

Pseudocetopsis plumbeus

Pseudocetopsis plumbeus orinoco

Pseudocetopsis praecox

Silurus caecutiens

Silurus coecutiens

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Scientific Names

Common Names

Synonyms

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