NOTOPTERID

also called Knifefish, or Featherback, any of about eight species of air-breathing, freshwater fishes constituting the family Notopteridae, found in quiet waters from Africa to Southeast Asia. Notopterids are long-bodied, small-scaled fishes with a small dorsal fin (if present) and a long, narrow anal fin that runs along most of the undersurface and continues into the tail fin. Undulations along the anal fin enable the fishes to swim both forward and backward. Notopterids are predacious and nocturnal and in some areas are sought as food. The largest (Notopterus chitala) may grow to a length of about 80 cm (32 inches). The species Xenomystus nigri is sometimes kept in aquariums.