Madagascar

Chrysichthys · Post by **Chrysichthys** » 16 Apr 2003, 16:20

Are there any catfish native to Madagascar?

Post by **Silurus** » 16 Apr 2003, 16:24

Yes, the endemic freshwater catfish genus Ancharius. Check out my webpage for pics of them (including several undescribed species).
There are also freshwater ariids endemic to Madagascar. The results of a study on the freshwater Arius of Madagascar are to be published soon.

Post by **Dinyar** » 16 Apr 2003, 21:16

HH,

Aren't Ancharius = freshwater Ariids from Madagascar? Or are you referring to an additional genus of freshwater Ariids from Madagascar?

Which other Arrid genera are freshwater?

I looked at the pix on your web site. My first look at Ancharius pix. At first sight, they look more like Synodontis than anything else!

Dinyar

Post by **Silurus** » 16 Apr 2003, 21:25

Ever wondered why Ancharius look so much like synos (especially a species like S. thysi)? That's because they're not ariids. I am working on the problem right now, but it seems that Ancharius is more closely related to doradoid catfishes (which includes mochokids, of course) than to ariids.
The ariids I was referring to are freshwater Arius from Madagascar (there are two undescribed species).
Outside of Madagascar, there are other freshwater ariid genera besides Arius, but because Arius is not a monophyletic group, it's difficult to name names. That is a story for another day.

Post by **Dinyar** » 16 Apr 2003, 21:35

Geez, Heok Hee... In Chinese we call this "mai guanzi" (as in "if you want to know who the mysterious guest who rushed into the bedroom was, please turn to the next chapter.")

We won't probe into the polyphyly of Arius for now, but please tell, if Ancharius are not Ariids, what family DO they belong in?

Dinyar

Post by **Silurus** » 16 Apr 2003, 21:41

I think they belong to their own family (Anchariidae).