The Amazon basin is the part of South America drained by the Amazon River and its tributaries. The Amazon drainage basin covers an area of about 7,000,000 km2 (2,700,000 sq mi), or about 35.5 percent of the South American continent. It is located in the countries of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela, as well as the territory of French Guiana.
Loricariidae is the largest family of catfish, with 92 genera and just over 680 species. Loricariids originate from freshwater habitats of Costa Rica, Panama, and tropical and subtropical South America. 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.
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.
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.
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.
Pogonopoma wertheimeri is a species of armored catfish endemic to Brazil where it is found in the Mucuri River, São Mateus River, and Doce River. This species is usually found in stretches of river with mid to strong water current and bottom formed by rocks or sand. However, they are also found in the Juparanã Lagoon, close to the mouth of the Doce river, which is a lentic habitat. This species grows to a length of 22.3 centimetres (8.8 in) SL.
Dentectus barbarmatus is the only species of the monotypic genus Dentectus, a genus of armored catfish.
Epactionotus is a genus of armored catfishes native to South America.
Microlepidogaster perforatus is a species of armored catfish endemic to Brazil where it occurs in the Carandaí River.
Microlepidogaster is a genus of armored catfishes native to South America.
Eurycheilichthys is a small genus of armored catfishes native to South America.
Eurycheilichthys limulus is a species of armored catfish endemic to Brazil, where it is found in the upper Jacuí River basin. The habitat at the type locality of E. limulus is a small river about 3–5 metres wide with moderate water current, bottom comprising some rocks but mostly sand and a large amount of marginal vegetation. These fishes live among leaves and stalks. This species grows to a length of 4.8 centimetres (1.9 in) SL.
Pterygoplichthys multiradiatus is one of several tropical fish commonly known as Orinoco sailfin catfish, plecostomus. It belongs to the armored catfish family (Loricariidae). Named for its sail-like dorsal fin, the part of its scientific name multiradiatus means "many-rayed" and refers to the rays of the dorsal fin. P. multiradiatus is one of a number of species commonly referred to as the common pleco by aquarists.
Yaluwak is a genus of armored catfish native to South America where they are only known from Guyana, containing only a single species Yaluwak primus. It was first described in a 2020 study and placed within the tribe Ancistrini.
Microlepidogaster arachas is a species of armored catfish endemic to tributaries of the rio Araguari, rio Perdizes, and rio Dourados, all pertaining to the rio Paranaíba drainage, upper rio Paraná basin in Brazil.
Microlepidogaster longicolla is a species of armored catfish endemic to the upper reaches of the rio São Bartolomeu, a tributary to the rio Corumbá, itself a tributary to the rio Paranaíba of the upper rio Paraná basin near Brasília in central Brazil.
Microlepidogaster discontenta is a species of armored catfish endemic to and found in the tributaries of the Rio São Francisco basin in Brazil.
Microlepidogaster discus is a species of armored catfish endemic to the Rio Jequitinhonha in southeastern Brazil.
Microlepidogaster dimorpha is a species of armored catfish endemic to tributaries of the Rio Uberaba and riacho Grotão, both tributaries of the rio Grande, upper rio Paraná system in Brazil.
Rineloricaria microlepidogaster is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is native to South America, where it occurs in the Lagoa dos Patos basin, as well as possibly the Paraná River basin, in Argentina and Brazil. It is typically seen in environments with slow to fast water flow, clear to brown water, and a substrate composed of rocks, sand, or mud, including polluted waters. The species reaches 19.3 cm in standard length and is believed to be a facultative air-breather.
