Akysidae

The Akysidae family is divided into 2 subfamilies, 5 genera and has about 57 species. The family name Akysidae can be broken down into two ancient Greek words. “A” means without and kysis comes from kysthos which means bladder. It is therefore a fish species without a swim bladder.

The subfamily Akysinae includes the genera Akysis and Pseudobagarius. The subfamily Parakysinae includes the genera Parakysis, Acrochordonichthys, and Breitensteinia.

Characteristics

The members of this family have remarkably small eyes. The color of the body is dark mottled and camouflaged. Tubercles can often be seen on the body. In some species these are even visible as long rows. The dorsal fin is short. Usually with one hard front fin ray, followed by four or five soft fin rays. Akysidae usually do not grow very large, a large number of species even remain very small. Most species have four short barrels.

Origin

All species of the Akysidae family are found in freshwater in Southeast Asia. There they inhabit the deeper parts of fast-flowing rivers and forest streams.