Kryptopterus is a genus of catfishes belonging to the family Siluridae.

The scientific name comes from Ancient Greek kryptós (κρυπτός, "hidden") + ptéryx (πτέρυξ, "fin").

It refers to the reduced or even entirely absent dorsal fin of these catfishes.

This species was initially confused with the larger glass catfish (K. bicirrhis; infrequent in aquarium trade) and subsequently with K. minor (essentially absent from aquarium trade).

A number of these have been recognized in recent years, and more are likely to follow:[4][5] Some species formerly placed in Kryptopterus are nowadays in other Siluridae genera, in particular Phalacronotus but also Micronema and Pterocryptis.