The Magdalena River is the main river of Colombia, flowing northward about 1,528 kilometres (949 mi) through the western half of the country. It takes its name from the biblical figure Mary Magdalene. It is navigable through much of its lower reaches, in spite of the shifting sand bars at the mouth of its delta, as far as Honda, at the downstream base of its rapids. It flows through the Magdalena River Valley.
Otocinclus is a genus of catfish in the family Loricariidae native to South America, commonly known as "dwarf suckers" or "otos". This genus, like other loricariids, is characterized by rows of armour plating covering the body, as well as the underslung suckermouth. They are generally small in size; O. tapirape is the smallest of the species (2.4 cm), while O. flexilis is the biggest (5.5 cm). These species have adaptations that allow them to breathe air. A duct forms at the junction between the esophagus and the stomach and expands into an enlarged, ring-like diverticulum, characteristic of this genus, which allows air-breathing. Otocinclus are popular aquarium fish, and they are often purchased as algae eaters. It is difficult to breed them in captivity, and only wild caught Otocinclus are available to hobbyists. This genus is widely distributed east of the Andes of South America, throughout the lowlands from northern Venezuela to northern Argentina, but are generally absent from the Amazon and the Orinoco lowlands.
Hyphessobrycon is a genus of freshwater fish in the family Characidae. These species are among the fishes known as tetras. The genus is distributed in the Neotropical realm from southern Mexico to Río de la Plata in Argentina. Many of these species are native to South America; about six species are from Central America and a single species, H. compressus is from southern Mexico.
Peckoltia is a genus of small South American armored suckermouth catfishes. Many of these fish are popular aquarium fish.
Hemiancistrus is a genus of suckermouth armored catfishes. These species are native to South America. The taxonomy of this genus is complex and unclear, and major work has to be done. Many of these fish are popular aquarium fish.
Farlowella is a genus of fish in the family Loricariidae native to South America. This genus is broadly distributed in Amazon, Orinoco, Paraná and coastal rivers of the Guyana Shield. It is absent from the Pacific slope of the Andes and from the coastal rivers of the Brazilian Shield. Many of these species are kept in aquariums. This genus has a unique body shape that resembles a thin stick of wood. The body is slender and elongate, often with a pronounced rostrum and a brownish color with two lateral dark stripes beginning at the tip of the rostrum, passing over the eyes and ending at the tail, which are periodically interrupted on the caudal peduncle.
Loricaria is a genus of armored catfish native to South America.
Spatuloricaria is a genus of armored catfishes native to South America and Panama.
Pseudacanthicus is a genus of medium to large-sized suckermouth armored catfishes native to South America, where found in the Amazon and Orinoco basins, as well as rivers of the Guianas. They are primarily found in fast-flowing waters, sometimes relatively deep. They are sometimes kept in aquariums.
Chaetostoma, also known as the bristlemouth catfish, is a genus of suckermouth armored catfishes native to South America with one species, C. fischeri, extending into Panama. Most species inhabit flowing rivers in the lower Andes and its foothills. Some species are kept in unheated aquaria.
Microglanis iheringi is a species of South American catfish described by Alcides Lourenço Gomes in 1945. The species belongs to the genus Microglanis, a group of catfishes that are native to South America and which are distributed widely throughout the region. M. iheringi is endemic to the Orinoco river basin and populations are present in parts of Colombia and Venezuela. One estimate places the total population at more than 10,000 individuals.
Chaetostoma chimu is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is native to South America, where it occurs in the Andean foothills of the Orinoco basin in Colombia. It was described in 2020 by Alexander Urbano-Bonilla and Gustavo A. Ballen on the basis of the distinctive morphology and coloration of the 119 specimens examined. FishBase does not list this species.
Chaetostoma formosae is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is native to South America, where it occurs in the basins of the Meta River and the Guaviare River in the Orinoco drainage in the departments of Meta and Casanare in Colombia. The species reaches 9.7 cm SL. This species is sometimes seen in the aquarium trade, where it is known as the rubberlip pleco or referred to by its L-number, L-444.
Chaetostoma lineopunctatum is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is native to South America, where it occurs in the basins of the Aguaytía River, the Pachitea River, and the Pisqui River in the Ucayali River drainage in Peru. The species reaches 14.3 cm SL. It appears in the aquarium trade, where it is referred to as the bloodfin bulldog pleco or by its L-number, which is L-276.
Chaetostoma platyrhynchus is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is native to South America, where it occurs in the Caquetá River basin in Colombia. The species reaches 9.5 cm in total length. The species is known to be of disputed classification and spelling.
Hemiancistrus guahiborum is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is native to South America, where it occurs in the Orinoco drainage in Venezuela. The species reaches at least 12.55 cm SL and was described in 2005 by David C. Werneke and Jonathan W. Armbruster of Auburn University, Nathan K. Lujan of the American Museum of Natural History, and Donald C. Taphorn of the Royal Ontario Museum on the basis of its distinctive coloration and morphology. It appears in the aquarium trade, where it is usually known either as the orange-seam pleco or by its L-number, which is L-106.
Pseudancistrus orinoco is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is native to South America, where it occurs in the Orinoco basin. The species reaches 10 cm in total length.
Loricaria cuffyi is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is native to South America, where it occurs in the Essequibo River and Rio Negro basins in Guyana, as well as the Orinoco basin in Venezuela, with its type locality being designated as the Ireng River. The species was described on the basis of 36 specimens in 2020 by Alejandro Londoño-Burbano, Alexander Urbano-Bonilla, and Matthew R. Thomas. FishBase does not yet list this species.
Spatuloricaria terracanticum is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is native to South America, where it occurs in the Orinoco basin in Colombia. It is typically found in environments at elevations of 197 to 350 m above sea level with moderate slopes, turbid to slightly clear water, a conductivity of 30 to 302 µS/cm, oxygen concentration of 1.6 to 7.64 mg/L, oxygen saturation of 22.5% to 98.8%, pH of between 6.4 and 8.2, temperatures of 22.5 to 28.58 °C, and substrates composed of rocks and sand. The species reaches 28.6 cm in standard length.
Farlowella mitoupibo is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is native to South America, where it occurs in the upper Guaviare River, which is part of the Orinoco basin in Colombia. The species reaches at least 20.96 cm in standard length. It was described in 2016 by Gustavo A. Ballen, Alexander Urbano-Bonilla, and Jhon Zamudio. Its specific name, mitoupibo, is derived from the Guahibo name for the species. FishBase does not yet list this species.
