Are small Asian catfish that belong in the group Erethistidae which although contains five genera, applies only to Erethistes species known collectively as Erethistini. (De-pinna 1996).
Erethistes used to contain only one species, that being Erethistes pusillus. But due to Thompson & Page’s 2006 work; it now includes the Hara’s, which have been designated as Erethistes with Hara now being a junior synonym of Erethistes. Some literature show/refer to Erethistes maesotensis (Kottelat 1983); however, this fish was re-examined and was shown to be a Hara type, and was therefore called Hara maesotensis in some circles. But Kottelat & Ng renamed this as Hara minuscula in their 2007 work.
It may be that at some later date the genus Hara will be resurrected, as there is a definite internal difference between Erethistes and Hara types, this being how the serrae on the anterior edge of the pectoral fin are arranged. In Erethistes the serrae are divergent whereas in Hara they are all antrosely directed. I also expect that the synonym Hara will be in use for some time to come in our local fish stores.
These fish on the whole are quite small in size, ranging from 30mm SL to 80mm SL, and are found In Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Nepal and northeast India.
They get their common name of "Moth Cats" due to their likeness in colour and markings to certain moth species.