Chitala is a genus of fish of the family Notopteridae. This genus contains six species, in which some are important in aquaculture and the aquarium industry. They are commonly known as the Asian knifefishes or featherbacks. They are native to freshwater in South and Southeast Asia.[1]
| Chitala | |
|---|---|
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| Chitala ornata | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Osteoglossiformes |
| Family: | Notopteridae |
| Subfamily: | Notopterinae |
| Genus: | Chitala Fowler, 1934 |
| Species | |
See text | |
The largest fish in the genus (and also the family) is Chitala lopis, which grows up to a length of 1.5 m (4.9 ft).[1] Other well-known species are the clown knifefish (C. ornata) and the Indochina knifefish (C. blanci).
Species
There are six recognized species in this genus.[1] In the past some of these (notably C. ornata) were included in C. chitala,[2] resulting in considerable confusion, especially in the fishing and aquarium industries.[3]
- Chitala blanci (François d'Aubenton-Carafa, 1965) (Indochina featherback or royal knifefish)
- Chitala borneensis (Bleeker, 1851)
- Chitala chitala (F. Hamilton, 1822) (Indian featherback)
- Chitala hypselonotus (Bleeker, 1852)
- †Chitala lopis (Bleeker, 1851)
- Chitala ornata (J. E. Gray, 1831) (Clown featherback or clown knifefish)