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Catfishes book monography
The aim of this project is to publish the definitive illustrated monograph on catfish, listing all recognised genera and species, including synonyms. At this stage, the aim is to set aside some of the funds to cover the costs of brilliant illustrations.
Author: Michal Mikšík
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Showing illustration for book 1. part
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Showing illustration for book 2. part
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Showing illustration for book 3. part
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Showing illustration for book 4. part
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Preview pages
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Back covers
40 days until the end
2 contributors pledged
Czechia
PledgeAll or nothing. This project will only be funded if it reaches at least its first milestone by Oct 9, 2026 by 17:06 CET.
Choose reward for your contribution
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sold 0Support for the project, acknowledgements in the bookI consider this project to be of great value, which is why I am happy to support it with a minimum donation of 10 EUR. When making your payment, you are welcome to donate a higher amount at your discretion. As a token of our gratitude, your name will be listed in the book amongst those who have helped bring it to life.
Reward delivery: e-mail, in over a year after the Hithit project end
Pledge EUR 10 -
sold 1Securing a reservation for a copy of the bookFor €30, your copy of the book will be firmly reserved, so you can be sure you’ll receive it. This €30 will then be deducted from the total price of the book.
As only 300 copies will be published, it’s likely that the book will sell out very quickly after its release.Reward delivery: on address, in over a year after the Hithit project end
Pledge EUR 30 -
sold 050 % discount of the book (without delivery fee)By contributing 65 EUR, you will receive a 50% discount on the book once it is published. Postage costs are not included in this price. As only 300 copies will be published, it’s likely that the book will sell out very quickly after its release.
Reward delivery: on address, in over a year after the Hithit project end
Pledge EUR 65 -
sold 1Free one copy (without delivery fee)By contributing 130 EUR, you will receive one free book copy with a signature. Postage costs are not included in this price. As only 300 copies will be published, it’s likely that the book will sell out very quickly after its release.
Reward delivery: on address, in over a year after the Hithit project end
Pledge EUR 130 -
sold 0One free signed copy book included postal feeOne free signed copy of the book, including postal fees (within Europe). As only 300 copies will be published, it’s likely that the book will sell out very quickly after its release.
Reward delivery: on address, in over a year after the Hithit project end
Pledge EUR 190 -
sold 0One free signed copy of the book, including postal fees (outside Europe).One free signed copy of the book, including postal fees (outside Europe). As only 300 copies will be published, it’s likely that the book will sell out very quickly after its release.
Reward delivery: on address, in over a year after the Hithit project end
Pledge EUR 220 -
remaining 20 from 203 copies signed books with postal fee + gifts (Worldwide)+ including poster A2 representing photos all families of catfishes
+ year calendar A2 with uniques 12 illustration of catfishes not includes in the book
As only 300 copies will be published, it’s likely that the book will sell out very quickly after its release.Reward delivery: on address, in over a year after the Hithit project end
Pledge EUR 400
How did it start (about me as author)
My name is Mgr. Michal Mikšík, I live in Prague in the Czech Republic and work in a molecular genetics laboratory. Since childhood, I have been fascinated by nature and especially fish, thanks to their enormous diversity and variety. This was largely due to the fact that as a young boy I read a history book called "Ryby mořské a sladkovodní" from 1909 (= Marine and Freshwater Fishes), which contained beautiful pictures. Although I never felt the urge to study fish scientifically and become an ichthyologist (probably because I am very afraid of flying and poisonous snakes :)), this did not change my admiration for this group of animals. Like many others, I devoted myself to aquarium keeping and gradually (as with many others) became fascinated by the variability of catfish from the Loricariidae family (L-catfishes). Today, I keep about 50 species of catfish in my aquariums, which allows me to enjoy at least a little bit of this amazing biodiversity. However, I always wanted to be involved in something bigger, at least to some extent...
My full story you can find HERE
What is my goal?
The aim of this extraordinary book is to present a current checklist of all described species and related synonyms within the order Siluriformes, with the source of the description provided for each name so that you can easily find further details about the taxon in question. The book is intended for anyone interested in this exceptionally diverse group of fish, whether they are aquarists or ichthyologists, and can serve as a basic guide for further study. Since an average of 60 new species are described each year, there is currently no book that comprehensively covers all taxa, making it much more difficult to find literature, even in today's electronic age. The book will feature high-quality photographs or illustrations of all genera, plus the ambition is to cover 30-50% of all species (photos and illustration). More details you can see on THIS WEB, where the book project is presented.
Details
As a result, the book will have approximately 1000 pages and will be printed on premium A4 paper to showcase the high-quality photographs. Of course, there will be an index of all taxa, making it easy to find the relevant page. The book should not be viewed as a work written by ichthyologists but purely as a factual checklist that serves as a comprehensive overview of the diversity of the order Siluriformes. Although, of course, by the time the book is published, which is planned for the year 2029, other species will have been described, it is planned to publish a supplement every year, which will include new taxonomic changes and new species for the past year. Thanks to these supplements, the basic book will remain up-to-date in the coming years.
... illustration in exceptional quality!!!!
As it is not logically possible to obtain photographs of all species, I have decided to approach a leading Czech academic artist, who will draw a large proportion of the species for the book. The illustrations will be created exclusively for this book and will not be published anywhere else. As producing the illustrations is very costly, I am trying to raise funds to cover the costs of creating them. I want the book to be of the highest possible quality, which is why I want to commission the very best illustrations and include only the very best photographs.
There are few illustration of the genus Scobinancistrus from academic artist:
What is aim of Phase 1?
The aim is to raise part of the funds required to pay an academic artist’s fee for the drawings she will produce. In 2026–2027, she will produce drawings of all genera in the family Loricariidae and other familes from South America, which, in terms of the book’s overall scope, will logically be the most extensive section.
What is aim of Phase 2?
In 2028, she will produce drawings of all genera in other familes.
Why I am doing this?
The aim is to provide people with an exceptional book that will serve as a seminal work revealing the astonishing diversity of this popular group of fungi, particularly within aquaristics. And, of course, to fulfill a dream I’ve had since childhood. As only 300 copies will be published, it’s likely that the book will sell out very quickly after its release.
Thank you for your support !
News
Aug 24, 2026 A leading academic painter will create the illustrations for the book
An exclusive collaboration has been agreed upon with the leading academic painter ‘Radka Bošková’, who specializes primarily in drawings of fish, but also of other organisms. Facebook profile: https://www.facebook.com/RBscientificart/
MoreProject links
Choose reward for your contribution
-
sold 0Support for the project, acknowledgements in the bookI consider this project to be of great value, which is why I am happy to support it with a minimum donation of 10 EUR. When making your payment, you are welcome to donate a higher amount at your discretion. As a token of our gratitude, your name will be listed in the book amongst those who have helped bring it to life.
Reward delivery: e-mail, in over a year after the Hithit project end
Pledge EUR 10 -
sold 1Securing a reservation for a copy of the bookFor €30, your copy of the book will be firmly reserved, so you can be sure you’ll receive it. This €30 will then be deducted from the total price of the book.
As only 300 copies will be published, it’s likely that the book will sell out very quickly after its release.Reward delivery: on address, in over a year after the Hithit project end
Pledge EUR 30 -
sold 050 % discount of the book (without delivery fee)By contributing 65 EUR, you will receive a 50% discount on the book once it is published. Postage costs are not included in this price. As only 300 copies will be published, it’s likely that the book will sell out very quickly after its release.
Reward delivery: on address, in over a year after the Hithit project end
Pledge EUR 65 -
sold 1Free one copy (without delivery fee)By contributing 130 EUR, you will receive one free book copy with a signature. Postage costs are not included in this price. As only 300 copies will be published, it’s likely that the book will sell out very quickly after its release.
Reward delivery: on address, in over a year after the Hithit project end
Pledge EUR 130 -
sold 0One free signed copy book included postal feeOne free signed copy of the book, including postal fees (within Europe). As only 300 copies will be published, it’s likely that the book will sell out very quickly after its release.
Reward delivery: on address, in over a year after the Hithit project end
Pledge EUR 190 -
sold 0One free signed copy of the book, including postal fees (outside Europe).One free signed copy of the book, including postal fees (outside Europe). As only 300 copies will be published, it’s likely that the book will sell out very quickly after its release.
Reward delivery: on address, in over a year after the Hithit project end
Pledge EUR 220 -
remaining 20 from 203 copies signed books with postal fee + gifts (Worldwide)+ including poster A2 representing photos all families of catfishes
+ year calendar A2 with uniques 12 illustration of catfishes not includes in the book
As only 300 copies will be published, it’s likely that the book will sell out very quickly after its release.Reward delivery: on address, in over a year after the Hithit project end
Pledge EUR 400
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