L-number

The L-number system is a semi-scientific classification system of catfish based on photographs of shipments of tropical catfish of the family Loricariidae published by the aquarium magazine DATZ (Die Aquarien und Terrarienzeitschrift).

An L-number is not an official scientific name, but it does allow people to identify various Loricariid catfish by a "common name" before the fish is actually officially described. When a Loricariid receives an official scientific name, the L-number is retired. ^[1]

In general a specific L-number classification does not guarantee a discrete species—multiple L numbers have been given to different populations of the same species. To add to the confusion, sometimes a single L-number may actually be used for multiple species.

Additionally the aquarium magazine 'Das Aquarium' introduced a similar system using the prefix 'LDA'.

L-number catfish articles

The L-numbers are listed below in numerical order.^[2] The preceding number holds no true precedence over the "alternative" L-numbers; they merely both are numbers that describe the same species or type.

See also

• German Wikipedia article

References

1. ^ Shane Linder. "What are L Numbers?". http://www.aquariacentral.com/articles/lnumbers.shtml. 
2. ^ "Cat-eLog::All l-numbers". PlanetCatfish.com. http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/numbers.php?mode=l&thumbs=16. Retrieved 2007-04-28.