classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Siluriformes Family: Malapteruridae Bleeker , 1858 Genera Malapterurus Paradoxoglanis Electric catfish is the common name for the catfish ( order Siluriformes) family Malapteruridae . This family includes two genera , Malapterurus and Paradoxoglanis with 19 species . [ 1 ] Several species of