Anchariidae
Encyclopedia
Anchariidae is a family
of catfish
es order
. This small family contains two genera
, Ancharius and Gogo
. Anchariids are a strictly freshwater group endemic to Madagascar
. Anchariids are characterized by the presence of fringed barbels
and a reduced anterior nuchal plate.
Traditionally, Ancharius is classified in Ariidae. The general consensus in recent years is that anchariids are members of Ariidae and do not warrant family rank. However, this family was recently revised in 2005, which reinstated the separate family for Ancharius and described the genus Gogo.
A molecular analysis grouped Anchariidae with Ariidae under the superfamily Arioidea.
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
of catfish
Catfish
Catfishes are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the heaviest and longest, the Mekong giant catfish from Southeast Asia and the second longest, the wels catfish of Eurasia, to detritivores...
es order
Order (biology)
In scientific classification used in biology, the order is# a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, family, genus, and species, with order fitting in between class and family...
. This small family contains two genera
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
, Ancharius and Gogo
Gogo (genus)
Gogo is a small genus of catfishes of the family Anchariidae. It includes four species.Gogo species are all endemic to freshwater rivers in eastern Madagascar; they are primarily found in highland habitats with clear, swift water. G. arcuatus is found in the Sandrananta River basin and G. ornatus...
. Anchariids are a strictly freshwater group endemic to Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
. Anchariids are characterized by the presence of fringed barbels
Barbel (anatomy)
A barbel on a fish is a slender, whiskerlike tactile organ near the mouth. Fish that have barbels include the catfish, the carp, the goatfish, sturgeon, the zebrafish and some species of shark...
and a reduced anterior nuchal plate.
Traditionally, Ancharius is classified in Ariidae. The general consensus in recent years is that anchariids are members of Ariidae and do not warrant family rank. However, this family was recently revised in 2005, which reinstated the separate family for Ancharius and described the genus Gogo.
A molecular analysis grouped Anchariidae with Ariidae under the superfamily Arioidea.