This two-volume set deals with diverse information on fossil and modern siluriform fishes, providing an overview of knowledge, research and scientific disagreements yet to be solved. The book is a synethesis of specialized articles that present the state of knowledge of catfish biology. The first volume covers anatomy, function and functional morphology, and the phylogenetic relationships among siluriforms and systematics of certain catfish groups. The second volume includes chapters on the fossil records and palaeodistribution, ecology and ethology, development and sensory biology.