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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).
Acentronichthys a-, without and centron, thorn or spine, referring to spineless dorsal and pectoral fins; ichthys, fish.
Aceroichthys In honour of Colombian ichthyologist Arturo Acero P. (b. 1954), for his “valuable” contributions to ariid taxonomy; ichthys, fish.
Acestridium Greek, agkistron = hook; latinized.
Acrochordonichthys Akrochordon, wart, referring to tuberculate skin; 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).
Ailiichthys Ailia, similar to that genus but differing in the lack of ventral fins; ichthys, fish.
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.
Amphiarius The first part of name from Greek 'amphi' meaning on both sides or double, referring to the occurrence of the included species both in fresh and marine waters; the second part is from the frequently used ariid generic name Arius.
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 ano-, without and odontos, tooth, referring to lack of teeth on jaws and vomer (but pharyngeal teeth well developed); glanis, sheatfish (Silurus glanis), now used as a general term for catfish.
Anduzedoras In honour of Pablo J. Anduze (1902–1989), Venezuelan explorer, ethnologist and medical entomologist, and later governor of Amazonas State, Venezuela, whom Fernández-Yépez said dedicated many years to practicing medicine in the jungle, and always found time to collect zoological specimens; Doras, type genus of family.
Aphanotorulus Greek, aphanes = hidden + Latin, torulus, -i = muscle, little string.
Apistoloricaria Greek, apisto = uncertain + Latin, lorica, loricare = cuirass of corslet of leather.
Araichthys ara, Tupí-Guaraní word for parrot (in English) and papagaio (in Portuguese), referring to the Rio Papagaio basin (Mato Grosso, Brazil), where A. loro occurs; ichthýs, fish.
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 The genus and specific name of bagre: meaning tautonymous with Silurus bagre; according to Marcgrave (1648), a Portuguese word for catfish used in Brazil, presumably first applied to B. bagre.
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.
Batrachocephalus bátrachos, frog; cephalus, from kephal, head, referring to the frog-like head of B. ageneiosus (= mino)
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.
Bergiaria –aria, belonging to: Latvian zoologist Friedrich Wilhelm Karl (“Carlos”) Berg (1843-1902), Director, Museo Nacional de Buenos Aires [replacement name for Bergiella Eigenmann & Norris 1900, preoccupied by Bergiella Baker 1897 in Hymenoptera].
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.
Breitensteinia –ia, belonging to: Heinrich Breitenstein (1848-1930), German physician who served with the Dutch East Indies army; he collected fishes and reptiles in Borneo for Steindachner, including presumably the type of B. insignis.
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.
Cambeva Vernacular name for trichomycterids in southern and southeastern Brazil, derived from the Tupi a’kãg, head, and pewa, flat, referring dorsally flattened head.
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.
Centrochir Kentron, thorn or spine; cheiros, hand, referring to the unrayed pectoral spines (Centrochir crocodili).
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.
Ceratoglanis cerato-, from kératos, genitive of kéras, horn, referring to bony maxillary barbels of C. scleronama; glánis, ancient name for a silurid catfish (probably S. aristotelis), now used as a general term for catfish
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.
Cheilonimata Cheilonimata is derived from the Greek, Cheilos meaning lip and nimátia or nimata meaning threads or filaments, alluding to the cylindrical, elongated, unbranched and fleshy barblets observed over lower lip surface. Gender feminine.
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 clupea, herring; soma, body, referring to the herring-shaped 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.
Colossimystax Colossimystax is fromthe Latin colossicon for gigantic and mystax for moustache in reference to the very long cheek odontodes that look like a moustache, a masculine noun.
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, Corea, alternate spelling of Korea, referring to country where C. brevicorpus is endemic, i.e., a Korean bagrid.
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.
Cryptarius kryptos, hidden or secret, i.e., a cryptic Arius, referring to its unique combination of characters having been ignored for a such a long time.
   

 D

   
Dasyloricaria Greek, dasys = with hair + Latin, lorica, loricare = cuirass of corslet of leather.
Delturus Delta, fourth letter of Greek alphabet; oura, tail, referring to tail, flat above, trenchant below, -shaped in cross section.
Dentectus dens (L.), tooth; tectus (L.), covered, concealed or disguised, referring to teeth “invisible” in normally preserved specimens, but easily observed in specimens that are cleared and stained.
Denticetopsis dentis (L.), tooth, referring to elevated symphyseal teeth of dentary; Cetopsis, type genus of family.
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.
Dupouyichthys In honour of Schultz’ friend Walter Dupouy (1906-1978), director of the Museo de Ciencias Naturales (Caracas, Venezuela); ichthys, fish.
   

 E

   
Encheloclarias énchelys, (Greek) eel, i.e., an eel-like Clarias, referring to shape of E. tapeinopterus.
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.
Gastrodermus The lining membrane of the alimentary tract of an invertebrate, used especially when the germ-layer origin is obscure.
Gelanoglanis Greek, gelanes, -es, -es = happy, smiling + Greek, glanis = a fish that can eat the bait without touching the hook; a cat fish.
Genidens The genus name of Genidens is tautonymous with Pimelodus genidens (but unnecessarily renamed G. cuvieri): genys, cheek or jaw; dens, teeth, referring to moveable teeth on the palate.
Gephyromochlus gephyra, bridge; –mochlus, proposed as a subgenus of Centromochlus, “intermediate in a way” (i.e., a bridge) between that genus and Auchenipterus.
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

   
Harttia The genus name of Hartia: –ia, belonging to: Charles Frederick Hartt (1840-1878), geologist, paleontologist and naturalist, who collected many specimens that Steindachner studied during the Thayer Expedition (1865-1866) to Brazil.
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.
Hemipimelodus Hemi - half, referring to previous placement of H. borneensis in Pimelodus (then a catch-all genus for many catfishes).
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.
Homodiaetus The genus name of Homodiaetus: according to Eigenmann (1922), “living or eating with others” (homos, same; diaeta, manner of living or diet), referring to the “known parasitic habits of some of its relatives”.
Hopliancistrus (Greek) Hoplon=Weapon + (Greek)agkistron=hook.
Hoplisoma hóplon, shield or armor; soma, body, referring to bony plates on sides.
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.
   

 J

   
Jayaramichthys In honour of Indian ichthyologist Kottore Chidambaram Jayaram (1926–2011), who contributed “greatly” to our understanding of the taxonomy, evolution and biogeography of ariids from the Indian subcontinent; ichthys, fish.
 

 K

   
Ketensus Latinisation of Keteng, Madurese name for this catfish in eastern Java, Indonesia.
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).
Kyataphisa Bengali word meaning catfish.
   

 L

   
Lacantunia Named for Rio Lacantún in Chiapas, the tributary river of Rio Usumacinta inhabited by the new catfish.
Laides –ides, descendant of: replacement name for Lais Bleeker 1858, preoccupied by Lais Gistel 1848 in Tunicata (Lais is Sundanese name for L. hexanema).
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 leio-, smooth, referring to lack of vomerine and palatine teeth; bagrus, a catfish then placed in the group “Bagrina” of the family Siluridae.
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).
Listrura listron, shovel; ourá, tail, referring to numerous accessory rays on tail, which make the caudal region shovel-shaped.
Lithodoras Greek, lithos = stone + Greek, dora = skin.
Lithoxancistrus A combination of two related genera, Lithoxus and Ancistrus
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

   
Magdalenichthys In allusion to the Magdalena River basin, remarking on the restricted geographic distribution of this heptapterid genus to the Cauca and Magdalena rivers, which together form the main hydrographic basin of the trans-Andean region of Colombia, framed by the Western, Central, and Eastern cordilleras, the most salient feature of the Colombian geomorphology. Gender masculine.
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

   
Nangra Tautonymous with Pimelodus nangra, presumably a local Bengali name for this fish along the Kosi River in India.
Nannoptopoma Latin, nannus = small + Greek, ops, eye + Greek, poma = cover, operculum.
Nanobagrus Latin, nannus = small + Mozarabic bagre, Greek pagros = a fish, Dentex sp.
Neblinichthys brevis (L.), short; bracchium (L.), forearm, referring to relatively short pectoral spines present in the genus.
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".
Notarius Etymology not explained, perhaps notus, back, referring to large occipital process of type species, N. grandicassis, formerly placed in Arius.
Notoglanidium otos, back, presumably referring to “rather long” dorsal fin of N. walkeri; glanidium, diminutive of glanis, sheatfish (Silurus glanis), now used as a general term for catfish.
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.
Osteogaster ostéon, bone; gast, belly, referring to coracoid bones of Osteogaster eques, which, unlike those of Gastrodermus elegans, enclose the ventral region.
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).
Otothyris otos, ear; thyris, lattice, referring to perforate temporals, pierced by 3-4 large openings, sometimes confluent into one.
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.
Parachiloglanis para-, near; chiloglanis, perhaps an abridgement of Euchiloglanis (=Chimarrichthys), in which type species had been placed (name could also refer to similar mouth/lip structure with the African mochokid genus Chiloglanis).
Paradoxoglanis "Unexpected Catfish" is derived from the Greek, combining glanis (catfish) with paradoxos (strange contrary to expectation). Gender is masculine.
Parailia The generic name of para-, near, referring to similarity to Ailia (now in Ailiidae), from which it differs in the absence of vomerine teeth and adipose fin (Parailia spiniserrata).
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
Pararius Para-, near, presumably referring to resemblance of P. proximus to Arius australis (=Neoarius graeffei).
Parauchenoglanis Beside (similar to) Auchenoglanis.
Pareiodon Greek, pareia = jaw + Greek, odous.
Pareiorhaphis Greek, pareia = jaw + Greek, rhaphis = needle.
Pareiorhina pareio-, from pareiá, cheek; rhina, from rhíne, file or rasp, probably referring to “granular” (or raspy) sides of head.
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 para-, near, i.e., similar to Akysis but lacking an adipose fin.
Parastegophilus Greek, para in the side of + Greek, stego, to cover + Greek, phileo = to like.
Paravandellia  para-, near, i.e., considered between Stegophilus and Vandellia (yet described as having the general appearance of the former).
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.
Plicofollis plico, fold; follis, bellows or windbag, referring to creased or scalloped swim bladder characteristic of the genus.
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.
Pseudepapterus False; referring to similarity of P. hasemani to Epapterus dispilurus, particularly the reduced dorsal fin (Pseudepapterus hasemani).
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 Tautonymous with Akysis pseudobagarius, proposed for members of the “pseudobagarius group” of Akysis; pseudo-, false, referring to striking (but phylogenetically false) resemblance to the sisorid genus Bagarius.
Pseudodoras Pseudos = fallacy; doras = cuirass.
Pseudohemiodon Pseudos = fallacy; hemi = half; odon, odontos = tooth.
Pseudolithoxus Greek, pseudes = false + Greek, lithos = stone + Greek, oxys = sharp.
Pseudoloricaria False, i.e., although this genus may resemble Loricaria (with its only species previously placed in that genus), such an appearance is false.
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 pterus, referring to large anal fin of Bunocephalus (subgenus Pterobunocephalus) albifasciatus (= P. depressus).
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.
Rhamdella –ella, a diminutive, proposed as a subgenus of Rhamdia.
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 pivós (Rhinos), beak, snout and Otocinclus, a genus of Hypoptopomatinae, in allusion to the conspicuous and elegant snout of most of its species.
Rhinotridens From rhino, latinised form of the Greek word rhinos (pivós), meaning nose or snout, and Tridens, the type genus of the subfamily. In allusion to the rostral protuberance of the new genus. An adjective.
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".
Sciades sciado-, canopy or umbrella, probably referring to the occipital process, described as a “distinct bony helmet” (translation).
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.
Silonia Etymology not explained, possibly latinisation of silon, local name for juveniles of this catfish in Bihar, India, or putative tautonymy with Pimelodus silondia but missing the “d”.
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.
Stellantia An abstract, feminine noun modified from the Latin adjective stellans for starry in reference to the dark body with white to yellow spots which appear like a field of stars, a feature that inspired the species epithet as well. Stellantia requires a change of ending for the single species in the genus: Stellantia siderea.
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

   
Tachysurus tachys, swift; oura, tail, referring to the presumed agility of T. sinensis based on its “long and nimble” tail (translation).
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.
Transancistrus trans (L.), over or beyond, referring to distribution of genus across rivers draining Pacific slope of the Andes Mountains in Ecuador; ancistrus, a root name for many hypostomine genera that have clusters of enlarged evertible cheek odontodes, from ágkistron (Gr. äyklotpov) fishhook or hook of a spindle.
Trichogenes A combination of tricho– from Trichomycteridae and –genes from the cetopsid catfishes of Helogenes, referring to superficial resemblance to that genus (specifically, the long anal fin).
Trichomycterus Trichos = hair; mykteros = nose.
Tridensimilis Greek, tres tria = three + Latin, dens = teeth + Latin, simil = similar, equal.
Tridentopsis –opsis, appearance, referring to similarity to the closely related Tridens.
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.
Urkumayu Comes from the Quechua, combining urku (mountain) and mayu (river), referring to the habitat of this species. They are all endemic to the Andean portion of the northwest of the La Plata basin, Argentina.
 

 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.
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