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.
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.
The zebra oto or tiger oto is a fish of the genus Otocinclus of the family Loricariidae that originates from Peru.
The golden otocinclus is one of the smallest known suckermouth catfish, often called a 'dwarf oto'. Endemic to Southeast Brazil, this herbivorous, rheophilic, bottom-feeder only grows to around 4 cm (1.6 in) in length. The close relatives of this small fish are often used for the purpose of controlling algae in small home aquariums, under the name Otocinclus affinis. In reality, they belong to the species O. vittatus, O. vestitus and O. macrospilus and O. huaorani. The real M. affinis is not present in the aquarium hobby.
Loricarioidea is a superfamily of catfishes. It contains the six families Trichomycteridae, Nematogenyiidae, Callichthyidae, Scoloplacidae, Astroblepidae, and Loricariidae. Some schemes also include Amphiliidae. This superfamily, including Amphiliidae, includes about 156 genera and 1,187 species.
Otocinclus xakriaba is a species of suckermouth catfish native to the São Francisco river basin in South America. This species reaches a maximum length of 3.1 centimetres (1.2 in) (SL).
Otocinclus batmani is a species of armored catfish (Loricariidae) native to South America. It can grow up to 37 millimetres (1.5 in) (SL).
Otocinclus bororo is a species of armoured catfish native to the upper Paraguay river basin in South America. It is also known as the Paraguay dwarf sucker.
Otocinclus mimulus is a species of armoured catfish found in small tributaries of the Monday river, itself a tributary of the Paraná river.
Scott Allen Schaefer is an American ichthyologist working at the American Museum of Natural History as the dean of science for collections, exhibitions, and the public understanding of science; he serves as the curator-in-charge, in the department of ichthyology, within the division of vertebrate zoology.
Otocinclus caxarari is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is native to South America, where it occurs in the Madeira River basin in Bolivia and Brazil. It is known to reach 2.6 cm in standard length.
Otocinclus flexilis, known in the aquarium trade as the peppered otocinclus, is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is native to South America, where it is known from the Lagoa Dos Patos drainage basin in Brazil. The species reaches 6.8 cm in total length.
Otocinclus hasemani is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is native to South America, where it occurs in the Tocantins and Parnaíba basins. It reaches 2.7 cm SL.
Otocinclus hoppei is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is native to South America, where it occurs in the Amazon River basin. The species reaches 3.3 cm SL.
Otocinclus macrospilus is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is native to South America, where it is known from the Amazon River basin. The species reaches 3.5 cm SL and is found in the aquarium trade, where it is sometimes referred to as the common otocinclus or dwarf otocinclus, both of which can lead to confusion with other Otocinclus and Macrotocinclus species.
Otocinclus mangaba is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is a tropical freshwater species endemic to Brazil, where it occurs in the Madeira River drainage. The species reaches 2.8 cm SL. The specific epithet of this fish derives from mangaba, the Portuguese name for the fruit of the plant Hancornia speciosa, which Humaitá, a municipality near where the species is found, is known for.
Otocinclus mariae is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is native to the Amazon Basin, where it is known from the upper Madeira River and the lower Amazon River in Bolivia and Brazil. It reaches 3.3 cm SL.
Otocinclus tapirape is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is native to the Araguaia River in Brazil. It is a very small fish, reaching 2.4 cm SL.
Otocinclus vestitus is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is native to South America, where it occurs in the basins of the Amazon River and the Paraná River. It reaches 3.2 cm SL. The species is sometimes found in the aquarium trade, where it is most frequently known as the dwarf otocinclus, a name which is also used for other related catfish species, not all of which are actually in the genus Otocinclus.
Otocinclus vittatus is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is native to South America, where it is known from the basins of the Amazon River, the Xingu River, the Paraguay River, the Orinoco, the Paraná River, and the Tocantins River. It reaches 3.3 cm in total length. The species is found in the aquarium trade, where it is usually known as either the common otocinclus or the dwarf otocinclus, both of which are names that are used for other related species.
