Chiapas Catfish
Lacantunia enigmatica
- Vulnerable
- Card rarity: Rare
- Fish
The Chiapas catfish is an unusual species of catfish 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".
Classification
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Order
- Siluriformes
- Family
- Lacantuniidae
- Genus
- Lacantunia