Trichomycteridae is a family of catfishes commonly known as pencil catfishes or parasitic catfishes. They are one of the few parasitic chordates. Another species is the life monsefuano (Trichomycterus punctulatus) which was important to the Moche culture and still an important part of Peruvian cuisine.

This family is prohibited from being imported into various parts of the United States.

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