Airbreathing catfishes | |
---|---|
Clarias batrachus at Brno Zoo | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Siluriformes |
Family: |
Clariidae Bonaparte, 1846 |
Genera | |
Bathyclarias |
Bathyclarias
Channallabes
Clariallabes
Clarias
Dinotopterus
Dolichallabes
Encheloclarias
Gymnallabes
Heterobranchus
Horaglanis
Platyallabes
Platyclarias
Tanganikallabes
Uegitglanis
Xenoclarias
Airbreathing catfishes are fishes comprising the family Clariidae of order Siluriformes. About 14 genera and about 116 species of clariids are described. All the clariids are freshwater species.
Although clariids occur in India, Syria, southern Turkey, and large parts of Southeast Asia, their diversity is the largest in Africa.
Clariid catfishes are characterized by an elongated body, the presence of four barbels, long dorsal and anal fins, and especially by the autapomorphic presence of a suprabranchial organ, formed by tree-like structures from the second and fourth gill arches. This suprabranchial organ, or labyrinth organ, allows some species the capability of traveling short distances on land (walking catfishes).