bagrid catfish

fish

Also known as: Bagridae

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 16, 2026

Quick Summary

Bagrid catfishes belong to the family Bagridae, which is part of the order Siluriformes, commonly known as catfish. These fish are characterized by their prominent barbels, or "whiskers," around their mouths, which they use for sensing their environment. Bagrid catfishes are found in Asia and Africa and are notable for having an elongated adipose fin, distinguishing them from some other catfish families like the Ictaluridae. They are considered both food and aquarium fish, with some species reaching up to 0.9 meters (about 3 feet) in length.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

ostariophysan
Annotated classification
Family Bagridae (bagrid catfishes) Similar to Ictaluridae but with elongated adipose fin. Food, aquarium fishes. Size to 0.9 metres (about 3 feet). Asia and Africa. About 18 genera, 170 species. Family Siluridae (wels and glass catfishes) Body compressed; adipose fin lacking, anal fin very long; short dorsal
Read More
Family Bagridae (bagrid catfishes) Similar to Ictaluridae but with elongated adipose fin. Food, aquarium fishes. Size to 0.9 metres (about 3 feet). Asia and Africa. About 18 genera, 170 species. Family Siluridae (wels and glass catfishes) Body compressed; adipose fin lacking, anal fin very long; short dorsal
Read More