Claroteidae
Claroteidae
Family of fishes
The Claroteidae are a family of catfish (order Siluriformes) found in Africa.[1] This family was separated from Bagridae.[2] However, the monophyly of the family is sometimes contested.[3]
The 12 genera contain 86 known species of claroteids in two subfamilies, Claroteinae and Auchenoglanidinae.[1][2] The subfamily Auchenoglanidinae is sometimes classified as a separate family Auchenoglanididae. This group was also often formerly placed in Bagridae.[1] The monophyly of Auchenoglanidinae is uncontested; it contains the three genera Auchenoglanis, Parauchenoglanis and Notoglanidium.[3][4]
Two commonly known species are the giraffe catfish, Auchenoglanis occidentalis, and the African big-eye catfish, Chrysichthys longipinnis.
Claroteids have moderately elongated bodies, usually with four pairs of barbels, an adipose fin, and strong pectoral and dorsal fin spines.[2]