What association defines the Family Ictaluridae, which includes the White Catfish?

North American freshwater catfish

The classification at the family level, Ictaluridae, serves to group the White Catfish closely with its most immediate evolutionary relatives, specifically those sharing a common geographic and habitat niche. This family is recognized specifically for housing the catfish species native to the freshwater systems of North America. This distinction is significant because it separates them taxonomically from other catfish families distributed worldwide, particularly those found in different continents or environments, such as South America, where diverse catfish families thrive. Members sharing the Ictaluridae designation, which also includes well-known relatives like the channel catfish and various bullheads, are intrinsically linked by their dependence on North American freshwater habitats, including rivers, reservoirs, and tributaries across the continent.