Chiapas Catfish - Taxonomy

Taxonomy

This fish is not related to any of the families found in its range (Ariidae, Ictaluridae, Heptapteridae). It is most similar to Ictaluridae, but lacks some important characteristics to classify this fish into this family or the other two families. Initial study has placed this fish above Diplomystidae, Cetopsidae, and Hypsidoridae, but further classification is unknown. It is probable that this family represents a basal group in which intermediates have disappeared.

With recent molecular evidence, it has been shown that Lacantunia is the sister group to Claroteidae, an African catfish family. It probably diverged from the claroteids in the Late Cretaceous between 75 to 90 mya.