See text The family Notopteridae contains 10 species of osteoglossiform (bony-tongued) fishes, commonly known as featherbacks and knifefishes.

These fishes live in freshwater or brackish environments in Africa and West South East and Southeast Asia.

A few of the larger species, especially Chitala ornata, are food fish and occasionally aquarium pets.

The earliest fossil of this family is otolith of Notopteridarum from the Late Cretaceous of India, about 70.6 to 66 million years ago.

The fish swims by holding its body rigid and rippling the anal fin to propel itself forward or backwards.