Notopteridae

Description

Featherbacks have slender, elongated, bodies, giving them a knife-like appearance. The caudal fin is small and fused with the anal fin, which runs most of the length of the body. Where present, the dorsal fin is small and narrow, giving rise to the common name of "featherback". The fish swims by holding its body rigid and rippling the anal fin to propel itself forward or backwards.

Notopterids have specialized swim bladders. The organ extends throughout the body and even into the fins in some cases. Although the swim bladder is not highly vascularised, it can absorb oxygen from air and also functions to produce sound by squeezing air through a narrow passage into the pharynx.

At least some species prepare nests and guard the eggs until they hatch.

Species

The 10 species in four genera are:

• Subfamily Xenomystinae Greenwood 1963 (African knifefishes, African featherbacks)
  • Genus Papyrocranus Greenwood, 1963
    • Papyrocranus afer (Günther, 1868) (reticulated knifefish)
    • Papyrocranus congoensis (Nichols & La Monte, 1932)
  • Genus Xenomystus Günther, 1868
    • Xenomystus nigri (Günther, 1868) (African brown knifefish)
• Subfamily Notopterinae Bleeker 1851 (Asian knifefishes, Asian featherbacks)
  • Genus Chitala Fowler, 1934
    • Chitala blanci (d'Aubenton, 1965) (royal knifefish or Indochina featherback)
    • Chitala borneensis (Bleeker, 1851) (Indonesian featherback)
    • Chitala chitala (F. Hamilton, 1822) (Indian featherback)
    • Chitala hypselonotus (Bleeker, 1852)
    • Chitala lopis (Bleeker, 1851) (giant featherback)
    • Chitala ornata (J. E. Gray, 1831) (clown featherback or clown knifefish)
  • Genus Notopterus Lacépède, 1800 (bronze featherbacks)
    • Notopterus notopterus (Pallas, 1769) (Southeast Asia populations)
    • Notopterus synurus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) (South Asia populations)