SCOTCAT.COM

your internet guide to all things catfish


GENUS NAMES First name: a group of closely related species
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A

*Acanthocleithron*	acanthus, thorn; cleithrum, large bone that extends from base of pectoral fin and forms posterior edge of gill chamber, referring to spinous projection above base of pectoral spine.
*Acanth/us*	Acanth = spines; thorns.
*Acanthodorus*	Acantho = thorn; doras = leathery skin.(spiney Doras).
*Acestridium*	Greek, agkistron = hook; latinized.
*Acrochordonichthys*	Greek, akros = summit, topmost + Greek, chorda = nervous line + Greek, ichthys = fish.
*Agamyxis*	With (very) much slime.
*Ageneiosus*	Beardless, pertaining to the very small maxillary barbels.
*Agmus*	Greek for agmos = fracture.
*Aguarunichthys*	From Aguarun, a Peruvian tribe that lives in the limit with Ecuador+ Greek, ichthys = fish.
*Akysis*	A = without; kysis = bladder, in reference to the lack of a swimbladder.
*Ailia*	Greek, aiolias, -ou = a fish (Scaridae).
*Amaralia*	Because of Dr. Afranio de Amaral, name that was used by H.W. Fowler; personal communication of John Friell/Cornell University.
*Amblyceps*	Amblys = blunt; ceps = from caput head.
*Amblydoras*	Amblys= blunt; doras = leathery skin, cuirass.
*Ameiurus*	A reference to the tail.
Ammoglanis	Greek, ammos = sand + Greek, glanis = a fish that can eat the bait without touching the hook; a cat fish. Glanis was the sacred spirit of springs in the town of Glanum and there was the Glanicae, a triad of local mother goddesses.
*Amphilius*	Ame = water bucket; philia = friendly love.
*Anadoras*	Ana = back; doras = cuirass.
*Anaspidoglanis*	From the Greek, an= meaning without, aspis= meaning shield, and glanis= meaning catfish; in reference to the absence of a well-developed shield between the cranium and the dorsal fin.
*Ancistomus*	Ancis trus congeners, because of the typical Interopercularodontoden and the body's structural similarity to hypus tomas (signs catfish) which, however, have no Interopercularodontoden.
*Ancistrus*	With barbed hooks, (hooked spines).
*Andeancistrus*	Derived from 'Andean', a reference to the mountains from which this genus originates, and 'ancistrus', a root name for many Hypostominae genera that have clusters of enlarged evertible cheek odontodes.
*Anodontiglanis*	Fish without teeth.
Aphanotorulus	Greek, aphanes = hidden + Latin, torulus, -i = muscle, little string.
*Apistoloricaria*	Greek, apisto = uncertain + Latin, lorica, loricare = cuirass of corslet of leather.
*Ariopsis*	Greek, ari = very, strength, superiority + Greek, opsis = appearance.
*Arius*	Derived from the Greek word Apelos (pronounced Araios) which means "sanctified by the god of war", and refers to the bony structure extending from the skull covering to the powerful thorn of the first dorsal fin ray.
*Aspidoras*	Aspidos = shield; doras = cuirass.
*Aspredinichthys*	Latin, aspredo, asperitas = roughness + Greek, ichthys = fish.
*Aspredo*	Aspredo; aspredinis = Roughness.
*Asterophysus*	Greek, aster = star + Greek, physa = tube, pipe, channel.
*Astroblepus*	Astron = star; blepos = look.
*Astrodoras*	Star Doras.
*Atopochilus*	Greek atopos = absurde, strange + Greek, cheilos = lip.
Atopodontus	Name from the Greek words 'atopos' meaning strange, anomalous or out of place, and 'odontos' meaning tooth. The name refers to the unusual mandibular dentition possessed by species of the genus.
*Auchenipterichthys*	From the Greek, auchenos, meaning neck; pteron, meaning fin; ichthys, meaning fish in reference to the long cranial shield, giving the appearance that the dorsal fin originates at the neck region.
*Auchenipterus*	Auchen; auchenos = neck; pteron = wing, fin.
*Auchenoglanis*	Auchen; auchenos = neck; glanis = catfish.
*Austroglanis*	Austro = the south + Greek, glanis = a fish that can eat the bait without touching the hook; a cat fish.
*Avalithoxus*	Avalithoxus is a portmanteau of the Latin word ava, meaning ‘grandmother’, and the genus name Lithoxus. It refers to both the apparently basal position of this lineage and the matronym of the type species, which honoured Jeanne Lujan, mother of Nathan. K. Lujan.

B

*Bagarius*	From the vernucular name; 'Vaghari'.
*Bagre*	From 'bagre', a South American name for a catfish.
*Bagrichthys*	From 'bagre', a South American name for a catfish, but is only used for African and Asian species.
*Bagroides*	With the appearance of Bagrus.
*Bagrus*	From 'bagre', a South American name for a catfish, but is only used for African and Asian species.
*Balroglanis*	Meaning "Balrog Catfish" and is derived from the Maia, a Balrog known as Durin's Bane, who terrorised Durin the Deathless' descendants in Khazad-dûm, in J. R. R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings legendarium.
*Baryancistrus*	Greek, barys = heavy/sturdy (Ancistrus)+ Greek, agkistron = hook.
*Batasio*	From the local (Bengali) name of the fish (batasio or batashi).
*Bathybagrus*	Greek, bathys = deep + Greek, pagros = a fish.
*Bathyclarias*	Greek, bathys = deep + Latin, clarias, -a, -um = shining.
*Batrochoglanis*	Batrachos = a frog in Greek; glanis = a catfish in Greek.
*Belonoglanis*	Composed from Belon, an ichthyiologist + Greek, glanis = a fish that can eat the bait without touching the hook; a catfish.
*Belodontichthys*	Belos = arrow; odon, odontos = tooth; ichthys = fish.
*Brachy-*	Short.
Brachyglanis	Greek, brachys = short + Greek, glanis = a fish that can eat the bait without touching the hook; a cat fish.
*Brachyplatystoma*	Greek, brachys, eia = short + Greek, platys = flat + Greek, stoma = mouth.
*Brachyrhamdia*	Brachy = short; rhamdia = from the vernucular name 'Nhamdia or 'Jamdia.
*Brachysynodontis*	Short Synodontis.
*Brochiloricaria*	Greek, brogchia, -as = throat, trachea + Latin, lorica, loricare = cuirass of corslet of leather.
*Brochis*	A sling, (a reference to the structure of the barbels).
*Bullockia*	Named after D.S. Bullock.
*Bunocephalus*	Buno = mound; cephalus = head.(with bumps on the head).

C

*Caelatoglanis*	Caeltus, engrained in relief, referring to distinct thoracic adhesive apparatus and plicate upper lip; glanis, sheatfish (Silurus glanis), now used as a general term for catfish.
*Callichthys*	Callich = hard skin; ichthys = fish.
*Calophysus*	Greek, kalos, kallos = beautiful + Greek, physa = tube.
*Carlarius*	Named for Carl Ferraris for his contribution to the knowledge of Siluriformes fishes.
*Cataphractus*	Kataphraktos = covered, mailed.
*Cathorops*	Greek, kathorao = to observe, to watch + Greek, ops = appearance.
*Centrodoras*	Greek, kentron = sting + Greek, dora = skin.
*Centromochlus*	Centrum = sting; mochlus = lever, from ancient Greek "lever arm", referring to the pectoral spines which can be a locked by a special mechanism.
*Cephalosilurus*	Greek, kephale = head + Greek, silouros = a cat fish.
*Cetopsidium*	Cetopsidium, from Cetopsis, that was the first genus proposed in the Cetopsinae, and “idium” meaning diminutive, is in reference to the relatively small body sizes of the members of the genus.
*Cetopsis*	Cetus = whale; opsis = having the appearance of.
*Cetopsorhamdia*	Cetopsorhamdia: Greek, ketos = a marine monster, whale + Brazilian vernacular name, Nhamdia/Jamdia.
*Chaca*	From the vernucucular name 'Chaca'.
*Chaetostoma*	From the Greek, chaite = hair + Greek, stoma = mouth.
*Channallabes*	Channe = a sea perch; al-to; labes = stain.
*Chasmocranus*	Greek, chanos, -eos, ous, and chasma, -atos = abyss, mouth opened, inmensity + Greek, kranion = skull.
Cheirocerus	Greek, cheir = hand + Greek, keras = horn.
*Chiloglanis*	Cheilos = lip; glanis = catfish.
*Chrysichthys*	Chrysos = gold; ichthys = fish.
*Cinetodus*	Greek, kineo = to move + Greek, odous = teeth.
*Clariallabes*	Latin, clarias, -a, -um = shining + Greek, allabes, -etos = a fish of the Nile, a kind of lamprey.
*Clarias*	Clear or shining.
*Clarotes*	From the Greek, klarotes, a term for slaves, people with bent necks; in reference to the morphology of the head.
*Clupisoma*	Clupisoma: Latin, clupea = sardine, derived from Clupeus = shield; doubtless a reference to the sacles covering the body of the fish + Greek, soma = body.
*Cnidoglanis*	Greek, knide = nettle + Greek, glanis = a fish that can eat the bait without touching the hook; a cat fish.
*Cochlefelis*	Greek, kochlea = snail like + Latin, felis = cat.
*Congoglanis*	From the Congo region = and glanis meaning catfish.
*Conorhynchos*	Latin, conicus = cone + Greek, rhungchos = snout.
*Conta*	Bengali, kuta kanti, a name for a fish.
*Cordylancistrus*	From the 'Kordyle' = Club, swelling + (Greek) agkistron = hook, referring to its wide head.
*Coreobagrus*	Greek, kore, -es = pupil and also with the meaning of "maid" + mozarabic, bagre, taken from Greek, pagros = a fish.
Corumbataia	A locality, Corumbataia do Sul, in Brasil.
*Corydoras*	Cory = helmeted; doras = leathery skin,(helmeted Doras) cuirass.
*Cranoglanis*	Greek, kranion = skull + Greek, glanis = the name of a kind of fish.
Crossoloricaria	(Greek) Krossoi=tassel + (Latin) lorica, loricare=cuirass of corslet of leather (a suit of armour made of leather).
*Cruciglanis*	Name from the Latin 'crucis' meaning cross and 'glanis' for catfish, referring to the crucifix shape of the second basibranchial in the branchial arch (Cruciglanis pacifici).
*Cteniloricaria*	Greek, kteis, ktenos = comb + Latin, lorica, loricare = cuirass of corslet of leather.
Curculionichthys	Derived from the from the Latin 'curculionem' (elongated snout) and from the Greek 'ichthys' (fishes), in reference to the relatively elongated snouts of the fish species included in this genus.

D

*Dasyloricaria*	Greek, dasys = with hair + Latin, lorica, loricare = cuirass of corslet of leather.
*Doras*	Skin.(leathery).
*Dianema*	Dia = through; nema = thread. The gender of this name is neuter, not feminine as usually thought.
*Dinotopterus*	Di = two; notos = back; pteron = wing, fin.
*Diplomystes*	Diploos = double; mystax = hair on the upper lip.
*Dolichancistrus*	Greek, dolichos = long + Greek, agkistron = hook.
*Doras*	Doras = cuirass.
*Doumea*	From Doumé, a locality in Congo (Africa).
*Duopalatinus*	Latin, duo = two + Greek, palatum, palate = roof of the mouth.
*Duringlanis*	"Durin Catfish" after Durin The Deathless from the Lord of the Rings Legendarium. Durin was the first created dwarf and the name is used in allusion to the dwarf species in the genus.

E

*Entomocorus*	Greek; entome, meaning notch, and kore, meaning pupil; in reference to the deep groove at the lower margin of the eye in which the maxillary barbels fit into.
*Eremophilus*	Greek, eremos = alone + Greek, philein = to like.
*Erethistes*	Etymology not explained, presumably erethizon, porcupine and–istes, adjectival suffix, i.e., porcupine-like, referring to strong and serrated dorsal and pectoral-fin spines.
*Erethistoides*	–oides, having the form of: Erethistes, “allied [to that genus] in most respects” but with a strongly depressed snout and a unique arrangement of serrations along leading margin of pectoral-fin spine.
*Ernstichthys*	Means “Fish of Ernst”; A. Ernst worked at the Universidade Central de Venezuela.
*Euchilichthys*	Greek, euchilos, os, -ou = well nourished.
*Euchiloglanis*	Greek, eu = good + Greek, cheilos = lip + Greek, glanis = a fish that can eat the bait without touching the hook; a cat fish.
*Eutropiellus*	Eutrophia = well-fed.
Eutropiichthys	Greek, eutropheia = well fed + Greek, ichthys = fish.
*Exallodontus*	In Greek, "exallias" meaning strange, marvellous, and "odous" for teeth.
*Exostoma*	Greek, exos = outside + Greek, stoma = mouth.

F

*Farlowella*	Named in honour of W.G.Farlow of Harvard University.
Fonchiiloricaria	Named for F. Chang, a Peruvian ichthyologist.
*Furcodontichthys*	Diminutive of latin, furca = fork + Latin, dens, dentis = teeth + Greek, ichthys = fish.

G

*Gagata*	Local fish name, kenyakatta, in Bengal.
*Galeichthys*	Greek, galeos = a shark + Greek, ichthys = fish.
Gelanoglanis	Greek, gelanes, -es, -es = happy, smiling + Greek, glanis = a fish that can eat the bait without touching the hook; a cat fish.
*Glanidium*	Greek meaning glanis, which transfers to catfish, meaning small catfish.
*Glyptoperichthys*	Greek, glyptes = carver + Greek,peri = around + Greek, ichthys = fish.
*Glyptosternon*	Glyptos = carved; sternon = breast.
*Glyptothorax*	With a carved breast-plate.
*Goeldiella*	In honour of Goeld, (diminutive form).
*Gogangra*	Gogangra: Perhaps from Greek, goggros, -ou = conger; derived also from the word "goggrone, -es" = goitre + an inclusion of Latin, conger.
Gogo	Gogo is the Malagasy word most commonly used to refer to members of the Madagascar catfish family, Anchariidae.
*Goslinia*	After Dr. William A. Gosline, functional morphology of teleostean fishes; Ph. Dr. Stanford Univ., 1941 and professor of Zoology, 1954-1971. Member of different professional associations.
*Guyanancistrus*	Composed from Guyana + see under Ancistrus.
*Gymnallabes*	Greek, gymnos = hidden + Greek, allabes,-etos = a fish of the Nile, a kind of lamprey.

H

Hassar	From the Aruac name of the fish.
Helicophagus	Helicophagus: Greek, helike = spiral + Greek, phagein = to eat.
*Helogenes*	Helos = marsh; genus = born.
*Hemi-*	Half.
*Hemiancistrus*	Half Ancistrus.
*Hemiarius*	Half Arius.
*Hemibagrus*	*Hemi- half; bagrus*- From 'bagre', a South American name for a catfish, but is only used for African and Asian species.
*Hemiodontichthys*	emi = half; odon, odontos = tooth; ichthys = fish.
*Hemidoras*	Greek, hemis = the half + Greek, dora = skin.
*Hemisilurus*	*Hemi- half; From 'silouros', a kind of river fish. Silurus, sheetfish, catfish. According to Lacepéde (1803) this word indicates the rapidity with which Silurus* can move its tail.
*Hemisorubim*	Hemi = half; 'Suribim' = a vernucular name.
*Hemisynodontis*	Hemi = half; Syn = together; odon, odontos = tooth.
*Henonemus*	Greek, enioi, -ai, -a = sometimes, some + Greek, nema = filament.
*Heptapterus*	Greek, epta = seven + Greek, pteron = wing, fin.
*Heterobranchus*	From the Greek heteros meaning other; Greek, pneo = to breath (atmospheric air).
*Heteropneustes*	Heteros = different; pneustikos = of breathing.
Hexanematichthys	Greek, exa = six + Greek, nema = fialement + Greek, ichthys = fish.
*Hisonotus*	Greek, isos = equal + Greek, noton = back.
*Hopliancistrus*	(Greek)Hoplon=Weapon + (Greek)agkistron=hook.
*Hoplomyzon*	Greek, hoplon = weapon + Greek, myzo = to suckle.
*Hoplosternum*	With armed sternum, (breast).
*Horabagrus*	Taken from Mr. S.L.Hora, director of Zoological Survey of India + Greek, pagros = a fish, Dentex sp.
Horaglanis	Taken from Mr. S.L.Hora, director of Zoological Survey of India + Latin, glanis = a cat fish.
*Hyalobagrus*	Hyalo+bagrus=3D transparent bagrid.
*Hypancistrus*	Greek, hypo = under + Greek, agkistron = hook.
*Hypodoras*	Derived from the Ancient Greek ?p?- (‘hypo’) meaning “under”. The etymology of the name ‘doras’ is “skin” in Greek, with reference to the armour plates.
*Hypophthalmus*	(Greek) Hypo=Under + (Greek) opthalmos=eye.
*Hypoptopoma*	Hypo = underneath; opter = pertaining to site.
*Hypostomus*	Hypo = underneath; stomus = mouth.(mouth underneath).

I

*Ictalurus*	Ichthys = fish; ailouros = cat.
*Iheringichthys*	Because of Hermann von Ihering, 1850-1930; He arrived in Brazil in 1880 and settled in Rio Grande as physician and naturalist. Expert in birds, fishes and mollusc's.
*Imparfinis*	Latin, impar = unequal + Greek, finis, pinna = wing, fin.
*Isorineloricaria*	Greek, isos = equal + Greek, rhinos = nose + Latin, lorica, loricare = cuirass of corslet of leather.
*Ituglanis*	Greek, itys, ityos = circle + Greek, glanis = a fish that can eat the bait without touching the hook; a cat fish.

K

*Ketensus*	In Hindi "keteng chapori" it means riverine landmass.
Kronichthys	Named for Mr. Ricard Krone.
Kryptoglanis	Named for its cryptic habitat; Latin, ‘crypta’, a vault or tunnel; ‘glanis’, a catfish.
*Kryptopterus*	Krypto = hidden; pterus = fin, (a reference to the almost invisible one-rayed dorsal fin).

L

*Lacantunia*	Named for Rio Lacantún in Chiapas, the tributary river of Rio Usumacinta inhabited by the new catfish.
*Lasiancistrus*	Greek, lasios, -a, -on = hairy + Greek, agkistron = hook.
*Leiarius*	Smooth.
*Leiocassis*	Smooth head.
*Leporacanthicus*	From the Latin; "lepus", "leporis" meaning rabbit and from the Greek, "akantha" meaning thorn.
*Lepthoplosternum*	A thin sternum, (breast).
*Leptodoras*	Greek, leptos = thin + Greek, doras = skin.
*Leptoglanis*	Greek, leptos = thin + Greek, glanis = a fish that can eat the bait without touching the hook; a cat fish.
*Leyvaichthys*	In honour of Mr. Leyva.
*Liobagrus*	Greek, leio = smooth + Mozarabic bagre, Greek, pagros = a kind of fish.
*Liosomadoras*	From the Greek leios, meaning smooth; soma; meaning body and Doras (a genus of doradid catfishes); in reference to the lack of bony plates on the body (when the genus was described as a doradid).
*Lithodoras*	Greek, lithos = stone + Greek, dora = skin.
*Lithoxus*	Greek, lithos = stone + Greek, oxys = sharp.
*Lophiobagrus*	Lophia, lophos = mane, crest; bagrus = 'Bagre' meaning catfish.
*Lophiosilurus*	Greek, lophos = crest + Greek, silouros = cat fish.
*Loricaria*	Coat of mail, a corselet (bearer of armour), harness.
*Loricariichthys*	Loricara = harness; ichthys = fish.
*Luciopimelodus*	Lucius =pike + greek, pimele = fat + greek, odous = teeth.

M

*Malapterurus*	Mala = soft; pter = fin; urus = tail.
*Mastiglanis*	Greek, mastax, meaning whip in allusion to the filamentous elements of pectoral and and dorsal fins; and glanis the name of the greek catfish of Arisotle, a common denomination for fishes of the order Siluriformes.
*Megalancistrus*	Large Lancistrus.
*Megalechis*	Greek, megas, megalos = great + greek, echis, -eos = viper.
*Megalodorus*	With a large helmet (cuirass).
*Megalonema*	Greek, megas, megalos = great + Greek, nema = filament.
*Merodontotus*	Greek, meros, -eos, -oys = thigh + Greek, odous = teeth.
*Metaloricaria*	Greek, meta = with, after + Latin, lorica, loricare = cuirass of corslet of leather.
*Micracanthicus*	Name derived from the Greek word mikros meaning small, and acanthicus, the name of the suprageneric clade of which this genus is hypothesized to be a basal member.
*Microglanis*	Micro = small; glanis = catfish.
*Microlepidogaster*	Small plates on the belly.
*Micronema*	From the Greek mikros, meaning small, and nema, meaning thread. In reference to the relatively small barbels.
*Microsynodontis*	Micro = small; Syn = together; odontis = teeth.(fused tooth plates).
*Mochokiella*	From the Latin -ella; in reference to the small size of the fish (literally: "a small Mochokus").
*Mochokus*	Genus name of Mochokus is the latinisation of Mouchchouéké, Arabic name for M. niloticus, roughly translating as “don’t get stung or jabbed by it,” referring to its dangerously sharp spines, which local fishermen try to avoid.
*Myoglanis*	Greek, myos = muscle, and also, mouse + Greek, glanis = a fish that can eat the bait without touching the hook; a cat fish.
*Mystus*	"Mystax" meaning whiskered (hair on the upper lip) Mystus was first used by Belon in 1553 to describe all fish with whiskers.

N

Nannoptopoma	Latin, nannus = small + Greek, ops, eye + Greek, poma = cover, operculum.
*Nanobagrus*	Latin, nannus = small + Mozarabic bagre, Greek pagros = a fish, Dentex sp.
*Nemadorus*	Greek, nema, -atos = filament + Greek, dora = skin.
*Nematogenys*	Greek, nema, -atos = filament + Greek, genys, -yos = face, jaw.
*Nemuroglanis*	From the Nemuro peninsula in Japan, Hokkaido + Greek, glanis = a fish that can eat the bait without touching the hook; a cat fish.
*Neoarius*	Neo means "new" in latin and Arius is Derived from the Greek word Apelos (pronounced Araios) which means "sanctified by the god of war", and refers to the bony structure extending from the skull covering to the powerful thorn of the first dorsal fin ray.
*Neoplecostomus*	Greek, neos = new + Greek, plekos,-eos = twisted.
*Neosiluroides*	Greek, neos = new + Greek, silouros = cat fish.
*Neosilurus*	Neo means "new" in latin and "silurus" From 'silouros', a kind of river fish. Silurus, sheetfish, catfish. According to Lacepéde (1803) this word indicates the rapidity with which Silurus can move its tail.
*Neotropius*	Neo means "new" in latin, tropis from the Latin , meaning keel, in reference to the compressed body of the fish.
*Netuma*	A Tamil word that means "dance".
*Noturus*	Meaning "Back Tail" referring to the fusion of the adipose and caudal fins.

O

*Ochmacanthus*	Greek, ochme, -es = grip of a shield + Greek, akantha = thorn.
Oloplotosus	Greek, holos = full + Greek, plotos = swimming.
*Olyra*	A kind of grain.
*Ompok*	It has been suggested that the name is a bad reproduction of the Malay name 'limpok'. Or from the vernucular name, 'Ompok'.
*Opsodoras*	Ops = ear; doras = cuirass ( helmeted).
*Oreoglanis*	Greek, oreos = mountain+Greek, glanis = Latin, aurum = gold + Greek, glanis = a fish that can eat the bait without touching the hook; a cat fish.
*Orinocodoras*	From the Orinoco River; doras = cuirass ( helmeted).
*Ossancora*	Meaning "bony anchor" which refers to their distinctive pectoral-fin spine and shoulder girdle.
Osteogeneiosus	Greek, osteon = bone + Greek, gene, genes = birth, race.
*Otocinclus*	Oto = ear; cinclus = a latticework, (an allusion to the holes in the head in the region of the ear).
*Otothyropsis*	The first part of the name is from Greek (otos = ear and thyris = window) and is in reference to the Hypoptopomatinae genus Otothyris, to which the new taxon is closely related. The second part is from the Greek (opsis = relating to sight and appearance); hence, resembling a hypoptopomatine fish.
*Oxydoras*	Oxys = sharp; doras = cuirass ( helmeted).

P

*Pachypterus*	Pachys, thick; pterus, fin, allusion not explained, perhaps referring to “considerably more lengthened” tail and/or long anal fin [often referred to as Neotropius Kulkarni 1952, a junior synonym].
*Panaque*	Venezuelan common name for plecostomus. Panaque nigrolineatus was the first described and it is from central Venezuela.
*Panaqolus*	The name "olus" meaning small, as in small Panaque.
*Pangasianodon*	Pangasius + an (Greek for without)+odon (Greek for tooth); in reference to the toothless state of the adult fish.
*Pangasius*	Derived from the vernucular name.
*Paracetopsis*	Greek, para = the side of + Greek ketos = marine monster, whale + Greek,opsis = appearance.
*Paradoxoglanis*	"Unexpected Catfish" is derived from the Greek, combining glanis (catfish) with paradoxos (strange contrary to expectation). Gender is masculine.
*Paralithoxus*	Greek: Para = The side of + lithos = stone + oxys = sharp.
*Paraloricaria*	Para = beside; loricara = harness.
Parancistrus	Greek, para = the side of + Greek, agkistron = hook
*Parapimelodus*	Greek, para = in the side of + Greek, pimele =fat + Greek, odous = teeth.
*Paraplotosus*	Greek, para = in the side of + Greek, plotos = swimming
*Parauchenoglanis*	Beside (similar to) Auchenoglanis.
*Pareiodon*	Greek, pareia = jaw + Greek, odous.
*Pareiorhaphis*	Greek, pareia = jaw + Greek, rhaphis = needle.
*Pardiglanis*	Greek, pardias, -ou = a fish similar to grey mullet + Greek, glanis = a fish that can eat the bait without touching the hook; a cat fish.
*Pareiorhaphis*	Greek, pareia = jaw + Greek, rhaphis = needle.
*Pareuchiloglanis*	Greek, para = near + Greek, cheilo = lip + Greek, glanis = a fish that can eat the bait without touching the hook; a cat fish.
*Pareutropius*	Para = beside; eutropia = well-fed.
*Parotocinclus*	Greek, para in the side of + greek, ous, otis = ear + Greek, kygklos, ou = a fish.
*Parakysis*	Greek, para = the side of + Greek, kysthos = bladder.
*Parastegophilus*	Greek, para in the side of + Greek, stego, to cover + Greek, phileo = to like.
*Pariolius*	Greek, pareia = jaw + Greek, leios = smooth.
*Paulicea*	From the state of Sáo Paulo.
*Peckoltia*	Named for Snr. Gustavo Peckolt of the Natural History Commission of Rondon.
*Perrunichthys*	After the vernucular name 'Bagre perruno', ichthys = fish.
Phenacorhamdia	Greek, phenax, -akos = deceptive + Brazilian vernacular name, Nhamdia/Jamdia.
*Phracto-*	Protected.
*Phractocephalus*	Protected head.
*Phractura*	Protected tail.
*Phreatobius*	Greek, phreas, -atos = well, (from a) spring + Greek, bios = alive.
*Phyllonemus*	Greek, phyhllon = leaf + Greek, nema = filament.
*Physopyxis*	Physa = bellows; pyxix = box.
*Pimelabditus*	Derived from Pimelodus, a genus of catfish, and from Latin word abditus, meaning hidden.
*Pimelodella*	Pimel = fat; odella = a little tooth, (a little Pimelodus).
*Pimelodina*	Greek, pimelel = fat + Greek, dinos, deinos = terrible.
*Pimelodus*	Pimel = fat; odus = tooth.
*Pinirampus*	Latin, pinna = fin + perhaps Old German, rampf = hook.
*Planiloricaria*	Flat Loricaria.
*Platydoras*	Platys = broad; doras = cuirass.
*Platynematichthys*	Greek, platys = flat + Greek, nema = filament + Greek, ichthys = fish.
*Platysilurus*	Greek, platys = flat and from 'silouros', a kind of river fish. Silurus, sheetfish, catfish.
*Platystacus*	Platys = broad; acus = needle.
*Platystomatichthys*	Greek, platys = flat + Greek, stoma = mouth + Greek, ichthys = fish.
*Platytropius*	Greek, platys = flat + Greek, tropis = keel, in reference to the compressed body of the fish.
*Pylodictis*	Means "mud fish" in Greek.
*Plotosus*	Plotos = swimming.
*Pogonopoma*	Greek, pogon = beard + Greek, poma, -atos = cover, operculum.
*Porochilus*	Holed lip (refers to position of nostrils).
*Prietella*	Named after Carlos Prieto.
*Proloricaria*	Greek, pro = in front of + Latin, lorica, loricare = cuirass of corslet of leather.
*Propimelodus*	pro-, before, suggesting the primitive condition of its trigeminofacial foramen relative to Pimelodus.
*Pseudo-*	False.
*Pseudacanthicus*	With false thorns.
*Pseudancistrus*	Greek, pseudes = false + Greek, agkistron = hook.
*Pseudauchenipterus*	Greek, pseudes = false + Greek, auchen = neck + Greek, pteron = wing, fin.
*Pseudecheneis*	Greek, pseudes = false + Greek, echein = to hold + Greek, nays = ship; remora, suckling fish.
*Pseudeutropius*	Greek, pseudes = false + Greek, eu = well + keel, in reference to the compressed body of the fish.
*Pseudexostoma*	Greek, pseudes = false + Greek, exo = outside + Greek, stoma = mouth.
*Pseudobagrus*	False Bagrus.
*Pseudodoras*	Pseudos = fallacy; doras = cuirass.
*Pseudohemiodon*	Pseudos = fallacy; hemi = half; odon, odontos = tooth.
*Pseudolithoxus*	Greek, pseudes = false + Greek, lithos = stone + Greek, oxys = sharp.
*Pseudoloricaria*	Pseudos = fallacy; loricara = harness.
*Pseudomystus*	Greek, pseudes = false + Greek, mystax = whiskered, used by Belon in 1553 to describe all fishes with whiskers.
*Pseudopimelodus*	Pseudos = fallacy; pimelodus = fatty.
*Pseudoplatystoma*	Pseudos = fallacy; platys = broad; stoma = mouth.
*Pseudoqolus*	Pseudoqolus is a portmanteau of the Greek word pseudes (false) and the genus name Panaqolus, indicating that although this genus may look superficially like Panaqolus, such an appearance is false.
*Pseudolaguvia*	Pseudo-, false; i.e., although this genus may superficially resemble several “closely allied” genera, including Laguvia (a junior synonym of Erethistes), such an appearance is false.
*Pseudorinelepis*	Greek, pseudes = false + Greek, rhinos = nose + Greek,lepis = scale.
*Pseudostegophilus*	From the Greek pseudes, meaning false, stego, meaning cover and philein, meaning to like; in reference to the resemblance to Stegophilus ("lover of cover", in reference to the secretive nature), another trichomycterid genus.
*Ptero-*	Wing.
*Pterobunocephalus*	From the Greek pteron, meaning fin; buno = mound; cephalus = head.(with bumps on the head).
*Pterocryptis*	Greek, pteron = wing, fin + Greek, kryptos = hidden.
*Pterodoras*	Winged Doras.
*Pterygoplichthys*	Pterygos = wing, fin; pleion = more; ichthys = fish.
*Pygidianops*	Greek, pyge = rump + Gree, ops = appearance
*Pylodictis*	Greek, pylos = mud + Greek, ichthys = fish.

R

*Rama*	Named after the legendary Indian king regarded as an incarnation of Vishnu.
*Rhadinoloricaria*	Greek, rhadinos, -e, -on = soft, flexible + Latin, lorica, loricare = cuirass of corslet of leather.
*Rhamdia*	Brazilian vernacular name, Nhamdia/Jamdia.
*Rhamdiopsis*	Brazilian vernacular name, Nhamdia/Jamdia; krugi: Named for Luiz Krug, professional tourist guide based in the city of Lençóis, in the Chapada Diamantina area, who called our attention of the existence of this new catfish and helped to collect its type series, and for his efforts dedicated to its conservation.
*Rhinelepis*	Greek, rhinos = nose + Greek, lepis = scale.
*Rhinodoras*	Greek, rhinos = nose + Greek, dora = skin.
*Rhinolekos*	Name from the Greek 'rhinos' for nose, nostril and 'lekos' for plate, referring to presence of the lateronasal plate.
*Rhinotocinclus*	Rhinotocinclus masc., from the Greek ????s (Rhinos), beak, snout and Otocinclus, a genus of Hypoptopomatinae, in allusion to the conspicuous and elegant snout of most of its species.
Rhizosomichthys	Rhizo-, root; soma, body; ichthys, fish, allusion not explained, possibly referring to how this catfish’s unusual body, surrounded by rings of adipose tissue, resembles the rhizome of some unspecified plant.
Rhyacoglanis	From the Greek rhyax = torrent + glanis = catfish; indicating a catfish inhabiting running waters in reference to the habitat of the genus. Gender masculine.
*Rhynchodoras*	Greek, rhingchos = snout + Greek, doras = skin.
*Rineloricaria*	The genus name meaning rine-rasp, referring to sharp bristles on sides of snout (of males); Loricaria, genus in which type species, R. lima, had originally been described.
*Rita*	A vernacular name from Bangladesh.

S

*Satan*	The prince of darkness. Hube liked to name cave fishes with diabolic names based on the idea of hell being underground.
*Schilbe*	schérifié (noble). It probably announces the superiority of this species for its taste".
*Scleromystax*	From the Greek "sclero" meaning hard and the Latin "mystax" meaning moustache.
Scleronema	Greek, skleros = hard + Greek,nema = filament.
*Scobinancistrus*	Latin, scobis = sawdust + Greek, agkistron = hook.
*Scoloplax*	A thorned plate.
*Scorpiodoras*	Latin, scorpaena = a kind of fish, 1706 + Greek, dora = skin.
*Silurichthys*	A fish like Silurus.
*Silurus*	From 'silouros', a kind of river fish. Silurus, sheetfish, catfish. According to Lacepéde (1803) this word indicates the rapidity with which Silurus can move its tail.
*Sisor*	Local name for the fish in Bengal and Bihar.
*Sorubim*	Comes from the native name "Sorobim" which is applied to many large Pimelodids.
*Sorubimichthys*	A fish like Sorubim.
*Spatuloricaria*	Latin, spatula, spathe = spatula, spatule + Latin, lorica, loricare = cuirass of corslet of leather.
*Spectracanthicus*	Latin name meaning spectrum = look, apparition + Greek, akantha meaning thorn.
*Sperata*	Named after Mr. M. A. Sperat.
*Spinipterus*	Name derived from Latin 'spina' for spine and Greek 'pterus' meaning wing, referring to the serrated nature of fin spines.
*Squaliforma*	Squalis (shark) and 'form' is a reference to the shark like form of the fish.
*Steindachneridion*	Named for Franz Steindachner, 1876; naturalist, ichthyologist that studied the fauna of Galápagos Islands.
*Sturisoma*	With a body like a sturgeon.
*Sturisomatichthys*	German, sturio = sturgeon, 1525 + Greek, soma = body + greek, ichthys = fish.
*Synodontis*	From the Greek syn, meaning together, and odontos, meaning tooth; in reference to the closely-spaced lower jaw teeth.

T

*Tandanus*	A local name, tandan, in Australia.
*Tatia*	In honour of Mr. C. Tate Regan.
*Tenellus*	From the Latin tener, meaning delicate, in reference to the delicate appearance of those dorads.
*Tetranematichthys*	Meaning "fish with four threats"; this refers to the barbels.
*Tocantinsia*	Taken from Brazilian river. the Tocantins.
*Trachelyichthys*	Greek, trachelos = neck + Greek, ichthys = fish.
*Trachelyopterichthys*	From the Greek, trachelos, meaning neck, pteron, meaning fin and ichthys, meaning fish; in reference to the long cranial shield, giving the appearance that the dorsal fin starts in the region of the neck area.
*Trachelyopterus*	Greek, trachelos = neck + greek, pteron = wing, fin.
*Trachycorystes*	Greek, trachys, -eia, -ys = rough + Greek, chorystes, -ou = a soldier with helmet .
*Trachydoras*	Greek, trachys, -eia, -ys = rough + Greek, doras.
*Trachyglanis*	Trachys = rough; glanis = catfish. A fish that can eat the bait without touching the hook; a cat fish. Glanis was the sacred spirit of springs in the town of Glanum and there was the Glanicae, a triad of local mother goddesses.
*Trichomycterus*	Trichos = hair; mykteros = nose.
*Tridensimilis*	Greek, tres tria = three + Latin, dens = teeth + Latin, simil = similar, equal.
*Trogloglanis*	Greek, trogle = hole + Greek, glanis a fish that can eat the bait without touching the hook; a cat fish.
*Tympanopleura*	Tympano-, tympanum; pleuro, side, referring to prominent pseudotympanum consisting of an area on side of body devoid of epaxial musculature where gas bladder contacts internal coelomic wall.
*Typhlobelus*	Greek, typhlos = blind + Greek, belos, -eos, -oys = arrow

U

*Uegitglanis*	Uegit = a pool in Uegit, Somalia + Greek, glanis = a fish that can eat the bait without touching the hook; a cat fish. This fish was found in a pool associated with a spring.

W

*Wallago*	Bleeker, in 1851 took the Indian fish name 'Wallagoo', gave it generic rank, and used it in connection with a new species.

X

*Xenoclarias*	Strange Clarias.
*Xiurenbagrus*	Named for Mister Ning Xiuren, Hangzhou, Institute of Oceanography; oceanographer and phytoplankton specialist.
*Xyliphius*	Derived from the Greek word, xylephion = a little piece of wood (referring to the woodlike appearance of the type species of the genus).

Z

*Zaireichthys*	A fish from Zaire.
*Zungaro*	Comes from the native name "Zungaro" which is applied to many large pimelodids.

Back to Etymology Page

THE GENUS NAMES PAGE

If you would like to contribute to the monthly factsheets with an article, information or photos, please e-mail me. You will of course be credited for your work.

If you would like to donate any denomination of monies to the site just click the above link button. All proceeds will go to running the site and hopefully to keep it going for a few years yet.

SCOTCAT.COM

your internet guide to all things catfish

GENUS NAMES

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

K

L

M

N

O

P

R

S

T

U

W

X

Z