Armored catfishes (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) are bottom-dwelling, armored fishes native to Central and South America. The Loricariidae is the largest family of catfishes with over 80 described genera and 700 described species. New species of loricariids are described every year. This research has largely been supported by funds from the All Catfish Project, a project funded by the United States National Science Foundation. All loricariids are covered by bony plates and have sucker mouths.
Loricariids are can be found in most freshwater habitats in tropical Costa Rica, Panama, and South America, but many species have small natural ranges. They can also be found in some brackish water habitats. Most loricariids are nocturnal and are active at night. Armored catfishes have also diversified in their eating habits; there are species that eat algae, invertebrates, and detritus. Additionally, there is one genus, Panaque, that is known for eating wood!
Many species of loricariids can also breathe air! Most likely, this trait was developed to be able to live in low-oxygen environment. Genera, such as Hypostomus and Pterygoplichthys, are well known for their ability to breathe air. This trait can make them heartier and may be one of the reasons they are often found in the aquarium trade. Some Pterygoplichthys can live up to 30 hours out of the water!
Parental care is also common in armored catfish. Loricariids are well known cavity builders and nest guarders. Male loricariids are often territorial during the nesting season and will guard both eggs and fry.
Armored catfish are VERY popular in the aquarium trade. Their beautiful colors, interesting shapes, and gorgeous armored plates make them very attractive to fish enthusiasts. They are typically sold as “plecos”, “plecostomus”, or “algae eaters”. Many people purchase armored catfish to clean the algae on the glass of their aquarium. However, many species do not eat algae and unsuspecting consumers may end up disappointed!
Aquarium owners may also be surprised when their tiny pleco grows to be too large for the aquarium. Unfortunately, this has led many pet owners to release their plecos into streams, rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and other bodies of water around their homes. In many cases, released armored catfish cause problems in their new environments. To find out more, visit our invasion and our resources pages.
The information on this page was taken from the following sources:
Armbruster, J. W. 1998. Modifications of the Digestive Tract for Holding Air in Loricariid and Scoloplacid Catfishes. Copeia 1998 (3): 663-675.
Covain, R. and S. Fisch-Muller. 2007. The genera of the Neotropical armored catfish subfamily Loricariinae (Siluriformes: Loricariidae): a practical key and synopsis. Zootaxa 1462: 1-40.
http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2007f/zt01462p040.pdf
The Loricariidae by Dr. Jonathan Armbruster
http://www.auburn.edu/academic/science_math/res_area/loricariid/fish_key/lorhome/index.html
Nelson, Joseph, S. 2006. Fishes of the World. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Quevedo, R and R. E. Reis. 2002. Pogonopoma obscurum: A New Species of Loricariid Catfish (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from Southern Brazil, with Comments on the Genus Pogonopoma. Copeia 2002 (2): 402-410.
Armbruster, and L. M. Page. 1999. Spawning in Ancistrus (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) with comments on the evolution of snout tentacles as a novel reproductive strategy: larval mimicry. Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters 10 (3): 217-229.
