Fishes: Loricariidae

Monday, 23 July 2012

Loricariidae

Loricariidae is the largest family of catfish (Order Siluriformes), with 92 genera and just over 680 species to date with new species being described each year. Loricariids originate from fresh water habitats of Costa Rica, Panama, and tropical and subtropical South America. These fish are noted for the bony plates covering their bodies and their suckermouths. Several genera are sold as "plecos", notably the suckermouth catfish, Hypostomus plecostomus, and are popular as aquarium fish.Members of the family Loricariidae are commonly referred to as suckermouth armoured catfishes, armoured catfish, 'plecos' or simply 'plecs'; a shortened form of the species name plecostomus. Some loricarids are not normally considered plecostomus, such as farlowella catfish.