Clarias
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Clarias Temporal range: Lower Pliocene - recent |
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| Walking catfish, Clarias batrachus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Clariidae |
| Genus: |
Clarias Scopoli, 1777 |
| Species | |
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Many, see text. |
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| Synonyms | |
Many, see text.
Clarias is a genus of catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Clariidae, the airbreathing catfishes. The name is derived from the Greek chlaros, which means lively, in reference to the ability of the fish to live for a long time out of water.
Clarias has been found to be paraphyletic. A species of Heterobranchus (H. longifilis) clusters deeply inside the Clarias group.
They are found in inland waters throughout much of the Old World, and are one of the most widespread catfish genera in the world. The genus is found in Southeast Asia and East Asia westwards through India and the Asia Minor to Africa. The diversity of these catfishes is highest in Africa. Some (notably the walking catfish) have become pest species where they have been accidentally introduced.
Clarias species are recognized by their long-based dorsal and anal fins, which give them a rather eel-like appearance. These fish have slender bodies, a flat, bony head, and a broad, terminal mouth with four pairs of barbels. They also have a large, accessory breathing organ composed of modified gill arches. Also, only the pectoral fins have spines.
Many of the species are of great economic importance in both fisheries and fish culture.
There are currently 61 species recognized in this genus:
African species
Asian species
Fossil species
...
Wikipedia