Clariidae

noun

Distribution: Africa, Syria and southern and western Asia (Philippines to Java). Dorsal fin extending over much of body length. Dorsal fin rays usually over 30 without a leading spine. Dorsal fin discontinuous or united to caudal fin. Rounded caudal fin. Wide gill openings. Barbels 4 pairs. Airbreathing is accomplished with a labyrinthic organ arising from the gill arches ('labyrinth catfishes'). Some species are capable of travelling over short distances on land ('walking catfishes'). Some are burrowers with small eyes and the pectoral and pelvic fins small or lacking.

The family Clariidae belongs to the Class Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) and the Order Siluriformes. It contains 13 genera and 100 species. It may be found in Freshwater environments and is primarily Primary freshwater. Some members of this family are used in the aquarium trade. Reproductively, most members of this family are mixed. The main mode of swimming of adult fish in this family is anguilliform. Compared with other fish, the activity level of this family tends to be normal. Members of this family have been dated back to the lower Pliocene epoch of the Tertiary period. This family may be found from 42° n to 28° s and 17° w to 136° e. Etymology of this family name: Claridae: Latin, clarias, -a, -um = shining