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.
Trichomycteridae is a family of catfishes commonly known as pencil catfishes or parasitic catfishes. This family includes the candiru fish, feared by some people for its alleged habit of entering into the urethra of humans. They are one of the few parasitic chordates. Another species is the life monsefuano which was important to the Moche culture and still an important part of Peruvian cuisine.
Trichomycterus is a genus of fish in the family Trichomycteridae, the largest genus of its family with over 170 species currently described. This genus is native to freshwater habitats in Central and South America. These fish are generally small, usually about 5 to 15 cm (2–6 in) in standard length, although the largest, T. rivulatus, can reach more than twice this size. Species differ from one another primarily in body proportions, fin ray counts and colouration. Despite their relatively small size, some, such as T. punctulatus, support fisheries and are important in the local cuisine.
Trichomycterus guaraquessaba is a species of pencil catfish presently only known from Rio Bracinho, a small isolated river in Paraná state, Brazil.
Trichomycterus iheringi is a species of pencil catfish endemic to Brazil in São Paulo and Paraná states, centred on Santos where it is found in the Ribeira do Iguape River basin.
Eremophilus mutisii is a species of catfish of the family Trichomycteridae, and the only member of its genus. This fish grows to about 30 centimetres (12 in) and originates from the Bogotá River basin, which is a tributary of the Magdalena River. It has probably been introduced to Ubaté, Chiquinquirá, and Tundama valleys, Colombia.
Malacoglanis gelatinosus is a species of catfish of the family Trichomycteridae, and the only species of the genus Malacoglanis. This fish grows to about 2.0 centimetres (.79 in) SL. and is native to the Caquetá River basin of Colombia. Stauroglanis is the sister group to a monophyletic group formed by Malacoglanis and Sarcoglanis.
Trichogenes is a genus of pencil catfishes. It is currently the only genus within the subfamily Trichogeninae.
Stauroglanis gouldingi is a species of catfish of the family Trichomycteridae, and the only species of the genus Stauroglanis.
The Glanapteryginae are a subfamily of catfishes of the family Trichomycteridae. It includes four genera, Glanapteryx, Listrura, Pygidianops, and Typhlobelus.
The Sarcoglanidinae are a subfamily of catfishes of the family Trichomycteridae. It includes six genera: Ammoglanis, Malacoglanis, Microcambeva, Sarcoglanis, Stauroglanis, and Stenolicmus.
Ituglanis is a genus of small freshwater fish in the family Trichomycteridae native to South America. Their greatest diversity seems to occur in the Amazon River basin. Most species inhabit leaf litter, with several species living in caves.
Silvinichthys is a genus of fish in the family Trichomycteridae endemic to Argentina.
The Copionodontinae are a subfamily of catfishes of the family Trichomycteridae. It includes two genera, Copionodon and Glaphyropoma.
Trichomycterus pirabitira is a species of pencil catfish described from tributaries of the upper rio Grande, rio Paraná basin, southeastern Brazil. The maximum recorded length for this species is 7.59 centimetres (2.99 in) SL.
Trichomycterus anhanga is a species of pencil catfish endemic to Brazil, where it occurs in the Amazon river basin in the state of Amazonas. This species reaches a maximum length of 1.3 centimetres (0.51 in) SL.
Trichomycterus balios is a species of pencil catfish endemic to Brazil, where it occurs in the upper portion of the Das Antas and Caí river basins, and the Mampituba river basin, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. This species reaches a maximum length of 10.1 centimetres (4.0 in) SL.
Trichomycterus brachykechenos is a species of pencil catfish endemic to Brazil, where it occurs in the dos Sinos river, part of the Laguna dos Patos system, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. This species reaches a maximum length of 7.1 centimetres (2.8 in) SL.
Trichomycterus diatropoporos is a species of pencil catfish endemic to Brazil, where it occurs in the da Prata and Turvo river basins, tributaries of the das Antas river, in the Laguna dos Patos system in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. This species reaches a maximum length of 6.8 centimetres (2.7 in) SL.
Trichomycterus poikilos is a species of pencil catfish endemic to Brazil, where it occurs in the Jacuí, Pardo and Taquari-das Antas river basins, tributaries of the Laguna dos Patos system, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. This species reaches a maximum length of 9.25 centimetres (3.64 in) SL.
