Bagridae is a family of fishes of the Siluriformes. It has more than 15 genera, about 50 species. Freshwater bottom fish inhabiting the waters of Africa and Asia. Length is usually up to 50 cm, rarely up to 1 m. The body is naked, covered with poisonous mucus. There is an adipose fin. The mouth is lower. Teeth on the jaws, sometimes on the palatine bones. On the snout 4 pairs of antennae. Lay eggs in holes dug by males in the ground. Feed on benthic invertebrates and small fish. The largest of Bagridae - Liocassis ussuriensis, reaching 1 m in length, has a small commercial value. Smaller species are kept in aquariums.

The body is elongated, devoid of scales and covered with mucus. The dorsal fin has 1 barbed ray and 6-7 (in some species up to 20) soft rays. There is an adipose fin, which varies considerably in size in different species. The barbed ray in the pectoral fin is serrated. The antennae on the head are well developed, usually four pairs.

About 15 genera of the family inhabit freshwater bodies in Africa and Asia. As a rule, medium-sized catfish, with bare skin and moderately elongated body. Dorsal and pectoral fins Bagridae are armed with sharp, often serrated barbs. Since the yellow mucus covering the body and fins of Bagridae, poisonous, the prick of these barbs is extremely painful. Anal fin Bagridae short, fatty fin is well developed.