Shark catfish

<h2 id="taxonomy-and-fossil-record">Taxonomy and fossil record</h2>
<p>Although Pangasiidae forms a <a href="/facts/Monophyly/pD8Yrrn6">monophyletic</a> group, several studies indicate this group may actually be a subtaxon nested within the family <a href="/facts/Schilbeidae/TLsafNo7">Schilbeidae</a>. Thus, Pangasiidae's familial status may not deserve continued recognition.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a>
</p><p>Two <a href="/facts/Fossil/by7NzIA1">fossil</a> pangasiid species are described, <i><a href="/facts/Cetopangasius_chaetobranchus/9Nna9xXP">Cetopangasius chaetobranchus</a></i> from the <a href="/facts/Miocene/cBRRzq4g">Miocene</a>, and <i><a href="/facts/Pangasius_indicus/M7SNsI1N">Pangasius indicus</a></i>, from the <a href="/facts/Eocene/EYgI8Uco">Eocene</a>.  However, the reported age of <i>P. indicus</i> from the <a href="/facts/Eocene/EYgI8Uco">Eocene</a> is debatable, as the Sipang Fauna stratum where it is found has never been officially dated. Therefore, the earliest reliable pangasiid fossil age is of <i>C. chaetobranchus</i> from the Miocene.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a>
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<h2 id="description">Description</h2>
<p>The <a href="/facts/Dorsal_fin/zAPuxI1G">dorsal fin</a> is located far forward, close to the head, and is often high and triangular, thus inspiring the common name. The <a href="/facts/Anal_fin/kS10PMPf">anal fin</a> is somewhat lengthy, with 26–46 rays. Usually, they have two pairs of <a href="/facts/Barbel_(anatomy)/VnymC6aF">barbels</a>, maxillary barbels and one pair of chin barbels, though adult <a href="/facts/Mekong_giant_catfish/Rrs1e6CQ">Mekong giant catfish</a> have only maxillary barbels. Pangasiids have compressed bodies and single small <a href="/facts/Adipose_fin/kS10PMPf">adipose fins</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a>
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<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pangasiidae.

<ul><li><a href="/facts/Rainer_Froese/YSvh9csS">Froese, Rainer</a>; <a href="/facts/Daniel_Pauly/0JsBKSFT">Pauly, Daniel</a> (eds.). <a href="http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/FamilySummary.php?family=Pangasiidae">"Family Pangasiidae"</a>. <i><a href="/facts/FishBase/SMpzPGmF">FishBase</a></i>. February 2012 version.</li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1"><p>Nelson, Joseph S. (2006). Fishes of the World. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ISBN 0-471-25031-7. <a href="0-471-25031-7" target="_blank">0-471-25031-7</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:2"><p>Nelson, Joseph S. (2006). Fishes of the World. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ISBN 0-471-25031-7. <a href="0-471-25031-7" target="_blank">0-471-25031-7</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:3"><p>Ferraris, Carl J. Jr. (2007). "Checklist of catfish, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types" (PDF). Zootaxa. 1418: 1–628. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.1418.1.1. Retrieved 2009-06-25. <a href="http://silurus.acnatsci.org/ACSI/library/biblios/2007_Ferraris_Catfish_Checklist.pdf" target="_blank">http://silurus.acnatsci.org/ACSI/library/biblios/2007_Ferraris_Catfish_Checklist.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:4"><p>Ferraris, Carl J. Jr. (2007). "Checklist of catfish, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types" (PDF). Zootaxa. 1418: 1–628. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.1418.1.1. Retrieved 2009-06-25. <a href="http://silurus.acnatsci.org/ACSI/library/biblios/2007_Ferraris_Catfish_Checklist.pdf" target="_blank">http://silurus.acnatsci.org/ACSI/library/biblios/2007_Ferraris_Catfish_Checklist.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:5"><p>Nelson, Joseph S. (2006). Fishes of the World. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ISBN 0-471-25031-7. <a href="0-471-25031-7" target="_blank">0-471-25031-7</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
</ol>

Shark catfish open-in-new

Shark catfish