Hypostomus

Hypostomus

Hypostomus is the largest genus of the armored catfish native to Central and South America. It includes the popular freshwater aquarium fish Plecostomus (formerly Plecostomus plecostomus). There is a lot of confusion as to the precise taxonomic structure of the Loricariidae.Hypostomus is the only genus in the tribe Hypostomini of the subfamily Hypostominae, and is the type genus of Hypostominae. The type species of Hypostomus is H. guacari.With the inclusion of Aphanotorulus, Cheiridodus, Cochliodon, Isorineloricaria, Squaliforma, and Watawata, the genus Hypostomus is by far the largest genus of Loricariidae, and the second largest genus of catfish. However, a good way to split up the genus further is unclear. Species level taxonomy of Hypostomus is still poorly known as well as the phylogenetic relationships within and of the genus. It has been shown that the genus does not form a natural group. However, small monophyletic groups are known to exist within the genus Hypostomus, such as the H. unicolor group and the H. cochliodon group. Aphanotorulus, Isorineloricaria, and Squaliforma are considered separate genera by some authors based on molecular information

Hypostomus

Hypostomus

Hypostomus

Hypostomus

Hypostomus

Hypostomus

Hypostomus

Hypostomus

Hypostomus