Erethistidae, Bleeker 1862. Was resurrected by de-Pinna (1996) and consists primarily of six genera, Ayarnangra, Conta, Erethistes*, Erethstoides, Caelatoglanis and Pseudolaguvia, which had been regarded as Sisorids up till the revival of Erethistidae in 1996, due to the fact that these six Erethistids differed to all other Sisorids in having a prominent pectoral girdle with the coracoid processes extending well beyond the pectoral fin base. In 2005 a new genera Caelatoglanis (Ng & Kottelat) was added.
However it was determined also in 2005 that the genus Laguvia was a junior synonym of Hara,* and that the next available name for this group is Pseudolaguvia (Ng & Kottelat, 2005). In 1996 de-Pinna used the phrase Erethistini as a way grouping together the genera Erethistes and the genera Hara*, as these two resemble each other very closely externally. It can also be said that the term “Moth Cats” refers to these two genera.
Old genera———————–Present genera
Ayarnangra—————————-Ayarnangra
Caelatoglanis————————–Caelatoglanis
Conta———————————–Conta
Erethistes——————————Erethistes
Erethistoides————————–Erethistoides
Hara————————————Erethistes*
Pseudolaguvia————————Pseudolaguvia
*In late October 2006 Ichthyologists Alfred W Thompson & Lawrence M Page of the Florida Museum of Natural History; Gainesville. USA. Published a paper on the Genera of the Asian catfish families Sisoridae and Erethistidae. Where in part they set forth their diagnosis and reasons for reclassifying or more to the point reassigning Hara species as Erethistes species. The following year other scientific works were published by Kottelat & Ng; and also by Ferraris, where these eminent scientists kept the two separate. However; although I could understand both arguments, I had a slight dilemma insomuch as to which argument I should give precedence too especially as ASCI accepted Thompson & Page’s 2006 paper; as I have seen great arguments and discussions over the years on just what some of these Erethistini actually are. I have decided therefore to show preference in using the common tag of ‘Hara’ to avoid confusion; as it is still being used on the vast majority of global internet sites as well as being used by wholesalers and local fish stores and in discussion between aquarists .