Family Heptapteridae Gill 1861 (Fig. 3E). Seven-Finned Catfishes, Heptapterids; Barbudos, Chulines, Bagres

Description: Body elongate; usually less than 30 cm in length; three pairs of barbels; mouth terminal or subterminal; scales absent; pectoral, pelvic and dorsal fins usually with strong spines; adipose fin present, large (larger than dorsal fin), without a spine at the anterior border; caudal fin forked (Angulo et al. 2021, Nelson et al. 2016). Distribution: Freshwater; Mexico to South America (Nelson et al. 2016). One genus and three species in Nicaraguan freshwaters.