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).
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.
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.
*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.
*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

*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.
*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.
*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.

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

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

R

S

T

U

W

X

Z