Chiapas catfish

Chiapas catfish

Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Lacantuniidae
Rodiles-Hernández, Hendrickson & Lundberg, 2005
Genus: Lacantunia
Rodiles-Hernández, Hendrickson & Lundberg, 2005
Species:
L. enigmatica
Binomial name
Lacantunia enigmatica
Rodiles-Hernández, Hendrickson & Lundberg, 2005

The Chiapas catfish, Lacantunia enigmatica, is an unusual species of catfish (order Siluriformes) from the Usumacinta River basin in the Mexican state of Chiapas and in Guatemala. It was scientifically described in 2005 and placed in its own family Lacantuniidae. While discovery of an undescribed species of catfish is not uncommon, discovery of a new family of any vertebrate group is a rare event. The Chiapas catfish mainly feeds on crabs, prawns, small fish, and large, tough plant seeds. This catfish is commonly fished in its natural habitat, where it is known as madre de juil, which means "mother of Rhamdia" (a common fish in the area).

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