Loricariidae is the largest family of catfish, with over 90 genera and just over 680 species. Loricariids originate from freshwater habitats of Costa Rica, Panama, and tropical and subtropical South America. Fossils indicate that they also inhabited Africa during the Cretaceous. 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.
Rineloricaria is a genus of freshwater tropical catfish belonging to the family Loricariidae. They are commonly called whiptail catfish because of the long filament that grows out of the tip of the caudal fin that is characteristic of the genus. With the exception of R. altipinnis from Panama, they are native to the rivers of northern and central South America. Some species are regularly seen in the aquarium trade.
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.
Loricariinae is a subfamily of the family Loricariidae of catfish. This subfamily is divided into two tribes and about 30 genera. They are mainly native to freshwater habitats in South America, but there are also several species in Panama and a single (Fonchiiichthys) in Costa Rica.
Pterosturisoma microps is the only species of the monotypic genus Pterosturisoma, a genus of the family Loricariidae of catfish.
Furcodontichthys novaesi is the only species of the monotypic genus Furcodontichthys, a genus of armored catfish.
Limatulichthys griseus, is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae.
Pseudoloricaria laeviuscula is the only species of the monotypic genus Pseudoloricaria, a genus of the family Loricariidae of catfish. The phylogenetic position of Pseudoloricaria is uncertain.
Pyxiloricaria menezesi is the only species of the monotypic genus Pyxiloricaria, a genus of the family Loricariidae of catfish.
Ricola macrops is the only species of the monotypic genus Ricola, a genus of the family Loricariidae of catfish.
Brochiloricaria is a small genus of armored catfishes native to South America.
Crossoloricaria is a genus of armored catfish native to South America with one species ranging into Central America.
Ixinandria steinbachi is the only species in the genus Ixinandria of catfish of the family Loricariidae.
Loricariichthys is a genus of catfishes of the family Loricariidae.
Sturisoma is a genus of armored catfishes native to Central and South America.
Harttia is a genus of armored catfishes native to South America.
Loricaria is a genus of armored catfish native to South America.
Sturisomatichthys is a genus of armored catfishes native to Central and South America.
Spatuloricaria is a genus of armored catfishes native to South America and Panama.
Hemiodontichthys is a monotypic genus in the family Loricariidae, under the order Siluriformes, containing a single species, Hemiodontichthys acipenserinus, also known as the Pinocchio whiptail catfish, Pinocchio catfish, Pinocchio cat or the knob-nosed whiptail. This shy, bottom-dwelling catfish is native to the Guianas, Brazil, Bolivia and Perú in South America.
