Loricariidae

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

iLoricariidae
Pterygoplichthys sp.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Siluriformes Family: Loricariidae Rafinesque, 1815
Genera
about 70, see text

The Loricariidae^[1] are a family of catfish noted for the covering of bony plates covering their bodies (In Latin, lorica means corselet). Some other traits of this family include a mouth on the underside (which may or may not have conspicuous barbels) and a ventrally flattened body, papillae (small projections) on the ventral (lower) lip, relatively long intestines and the adipose fin absent, or when present with a spine at anterior border. Unusually for bony fish many species have irises,and the iris is omega shaped (see: Omega iris); the exact reason for development of such an unusually shaped iris is unknown but may be to camouflage the eye so as to make the fish less visible to predators^[2]

The family includes about 650 species in 70 genera, found in Central and South America. All of the armored catfishes are freshwater fish. Species occur in swift-flowing streams from the lowlands up to 3,000 metres in elevation. Several types, notably the 'Suckermouth Catfish' Hypostomus plecostomus, are popular for aquaria, where they are useful because of their algae-eating habits. Most species are in fact detritivores.

Contents 1 Common names 2 L numbers 3 Identification of Different Genera of the family Loricariidae 4 Genera 5 External links 6 References

[edit] Common names

Members of the family Loricariidae are commonly referred to as suckermouth armoured catfishes, suckermouth catfish, suckermouths, armoured catfish, 'plecos' or simply 'plecs'; a shortened form of the species name plecostomus.

These names are used practically interchangeably when referring to the Loricariidae.

The name "Plecostomus" and its shortened forms have become synonymous with the Loricariidae in general, since Plecostomus plecostomus (now called Hypostomus plecostomus) was one of the first species imported into the fishkeeping hobby.

[edit] L numbers

The Loricariidae are often referred to by their 'L-number', this has been become common since imports of loricariid catfish from South America often included specimens that had not been taxonomically described. Currently L-numbers are used not only by fishkeeping enthusiasts but by biologists since they represent a useful stopgap until a new species of fish is given a full taxonomic name^[3]. It should be noted that two different L-numbered catfish have turned out to be different populations of the same species, and that a stock of identically L-numbered catfish might contain more than one species also.

[edit] Identification of Different Genera of the family Loricariidae

In general identification of a given genera is not simple, especially in the case of juveniles who may lack some of the distinguishing features of specific genera. For a key to the armour plated suckermouth catfish see A Key to the Genera of Loricariidae (external link)

[edit] Genera

Acanthicus Acestridium Ancistrus Aphanotorulus Apistoloricaria Aposturisoma Baryancistrus Brochiloricaria Chaetostoma Cordylancistrus Corumbataia Corymbophanes Crossoloricaria Cteniloricaria Dasyloricaria Dekeyseria Delturus Dentectus Dolichancistrus

Epactionotus Eurycheilichthys Exastilithoxus Farlowella Furcodontichthys Glyptoperichthys Guyanancistrus Harttia Harttiella Hemiancistrus Hemiodontichthys Hemipsilichthys Hisonotus Hopliancistrus Hypancistrus Hypoptopoma Hypostomus Isbrueckerichthys Isorineloricaria

Ixinandria Kronichthys Lamontichthys Lasiancistrus Leporacanthicus Leptoancistrus Limatulichthys Lipopterichthys Liposarcus Lithogenes Lithoxancistrus Lithoxus Loricaria Loricariichthys Megalancistrus Metaloricaria Microlepidogaster Nannoptopoma Neblinichthys

Neoplecostomus Niobichthys Oligancistrus Otocinclus Otothyris Otothyropsis Oxyropsis Panaque Paraloricaria Parancistrus Pareiorhina Parotocinclus Peckoltia Planiloricaria Pogonopoma Pseudacanthicus Pseudancistrus Pseudohemiodon Pseudolithoxus

Pseudoloricaria Pseudorinelepis Pseudotocinclus Pseudotothyris Pterosturisoma Pterygoplichthys Pyxiloricaria Reganella Rhadinoloricaria Rhinelepis Ricola Rineloricaria Schizolecis Scobinancistrus Spatuloricaria Spectracanthicus Squaliforma Sturisoma Sturisomatichthys

[edit] External links

• THE LORICARIIDAE by Dr. Jonathan Armbruster - useful website including a taxonomic key.
• FishBase info for Loricariidae
• Planet Catfish Catalogue of loricariid catfishes

[edit] References

1. ^ "Loricariidae". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. 05 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
2. ^ (2002) "The eyes of suckermouth armoured catfish (Loricariidae, subfamily Hypostomus): pupil response, lenticular longitudinal spherical aberration and retinal topography".
3. ^ Shane Linder. What are L Numbers?.