Hypostomus plecostomus, also known as the suckermouth catfish or the common pleco, is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the armored catfish family (Loricariidae), named for the longitudinal rows of armor-like scutes that cover the upper parts of the head and body. Although the name Hypostomus plecostomus is often used to refer to common plecostomus sold in aquarium shops, most are actually members of other genera.
Hypostomus is a genus of catfish in the family Loricariidae. They are native to tropical and subtropical South America. H. plecostomus is the popular freshwater aquarium fish formerly known as Plecostomus plecostomus. The taxonomic structure of the Loricariidae is still being expanded by scientists. Hypostomus is a highly species-rich and widely distributed catfish genus.
Peckoltia is a genus of small South American armored suckermouth catfishes. Many of these fish are popular aquarium fish.
Harttia is a genus of armored catfishes native to South America.
The Hypostominae are a subfamily of catfishes of the family Loricariidae. Most members are restricted to tropical and subtropical South America, but there are also several species in southern Central America. Hypostomus plecostomus, which is popular in the aquarium trade, has been introduced to several regions far from its native range.
Hypostomus cochliodon is a species of armored catfish native to the Paraguay and middle Paraná River basins in northern Argentina, southern Brazil and Paraguay. Initially it did not occur in the upper Paraná basin above the Guaíra Falls, but these disappeared after the construction of the Itaipu Dam, allowing this species to spread. It grows to a standard length of 23 cm (9.1 in).
Peckoltia capitulata is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is native to South America, where it occurs in the Approuague River in French Guiana. It was initially collected from an area of the river with a swift, strong current that was noted to be unusually turbid at the time of collection due to illegal gold mining in the area. The species reaches 7.6 cm SL. Its specific epithet, capitulata, is derived from Latin and reportedly refers to the characteristically small head of the species.
Hypostomus hermanni, sometimes known as Hermann's pleco, is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is native to South America, where it occurs in the Tietê River basin, including the Piracicaba River, in Brazil. It is typically found in areas with flowing water of shallow to moderately shallow depth. The species reaches 24 cm in total length and is believed to be a facultative air-breather.
Hypostomus khimaera is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is native to South America, where it occurs in the Paraguay River basin in Brazil. It is typically seen in small streams, including the Aquidauana River basin, where it is known from the margins of deeper, sandy areas. It is known to be syntopic with Hypostomus cochliodon in several parts of its range. The species reaches 16.4 cm SL and is believed to be a facultative air-breather. Its specific epithet, khimaera, derives from Greek and refers to the mythical chimera, as H. khimaera possesses features normally associated with multiple distinct species.
Hypostomus latifrons is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is native to South America, where it occurs in the Paraguay River basin. The species reaches 28.7 cm SL and is believed to be a facultative air-breather.
Hypostomus spiniger, sometimes known as the spiny plated pleco, is a disputed species of catfish in the family Loricariidae with a complex history of classification.
Hypostomus multidens is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is native to South America, where it occurs in the basins of the Paranapanema River and the Paraná River in Brazil. It is typically seen in large rivers, where it usually occurs at low population densities. The species reaches 19.8 cm SL and is believed to be a facultative air-breather. Its specific epithet, multidens, refers to the species' distinctively high number of teeth, with individuals of H. multidens possessing between 122 and 267 teeth per mandibular ramus.
Hypostomus perdido is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is native to South America, where it occurs in the Perdido River, which is part of the Paraguay River basin in Brazil. It is typically found in portions of the river that have still or slow-moving water. The species reaches 18.1 cm SL and is believed to be a facultative air-breather. Its specific epithet, perdido, references the river in which it occurs.
Hypostomus arecuta is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is a freshwater fish native to South America, where it occurs in the Paraná River in Argentina.
Hypostomus basilisko is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is native to South America, where it occurs in the Salobra River basin, which is part of the Paraguay River basin in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul in Brazil.
Hypostomus boulengeri is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is native to South America. The species reaches 24.5 cm SL and is believed to be a facultative air-breather.
Hypostomus albopunctatus is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is native to South America, where it occurs in the basins of the Paraná River and the Paraguay River, including the Iguazu River. The species reaches 40 cm in standard length, can weigh up to at least 991 g, and is believed to be a facultative air-breather. While similar to the related species Hypostomus heraldoi, H. albopunctatus can be distinguished by its distinctive pale spots and the length of its fin rays. Its specific epithet, albopunctatus, refers to these spots.
Hypostomus latirostris is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is native to South America, where it occurs in the Paraguay River basin in Brazil and Paraguay. The species reaches 26 cm in total length and is believed to be a facultative air-breather. While initially described by Charles Tate Regan in 1904, it was redescribed in 2018 by Cláudio Henrique Zawadzki, Hugmar Pains da Silva, and Waldo Pinheiro Troy alongside the description of the species Hypostomus renestoi.
Hypostomus renestoi is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is native to South America, where it occurs in the upper Paraguay River basin in Brazil. The species was described in 2018 by Cláudio Henrique Zawadzki, Hugmar Pains da Silva, and Waldo Pinheiro Troy alongside the redescription of Hypostomus latirostris. FishBase does not list this species.
Hypostomus peckoltoides is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is native to South America, where it occurs in the Cuiabá River in the upper Paraguay River basin in Brazil. It is typically found in environments with turbid water, a substrate composed of rocks and sand, and various types of riparian vegetation. It is known to be syntopic with other species of Hypostomus, including H. boulengeri, H. cochliodon, H. latifrons, H. latirostris, and H. regani.
