Loricariidae - Armoured suckermouth catfishes
Description
Loricariidae is the largest family of catfish (order Siluriformes), 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.
