Loricariidae facts for kids

Loricariidae is the largest family of catfish! There are over 680 different kinds of these fish, found in 92 groups. They live in freshwater in places like Costa Rica, Panama, and many parts of South America. These fish are special because they have bony plates covering their bodies, like armor. They also have unique suckermouths. Many of them are popular as aquarium fish and are often called "plecos".

What are Loricariids Called?

These fish are often called loricariids, suckermouth armored catfishes, or just armored catfish. The name "plecostomus" (or "pleco" for short) became popular because Plecostomus plecostomus (now called Hypostomus plecostomus) was one of the first types brought in for fish tanks.

Not all loricariids are called "plecos," though. For example, Farlowella catfish are also part of this family. In their home countries, these fish are known as cascudos or acarís.

L-numbers: Secret Codes for Fish

Sometimes, new types of loricariids are found that don't have official names yet. So, people who keep fish, and even scientists, use "L-numbers" to identify them. It's like a temporary code until the fish gets a proper scientific name. Sometimes, different L-numbers turn out to be the same fish, or several similar fish might share one L-number. It helps keep track of them!

How Loricariids Evolved

Scientists have always known that loricariids are a special group of fish because of their unique bodies. They are part of a bigger group called Loricarioidea, which includes other catfish families. Some of these other families also have suckermouths or armor, but never both on the same fish like loricariids do!

This is the biggest family of catfish, with new species being discovered every year. Scientists are always studying them, so their family tree might change a bit over time. For example, some groups that were once considered separate subfamilies are now seen as smaller tribes.

Loricariid fossils are very rare. The oldest ones found are from about 5 to 23 million years ago. Their special jaws, which are more advanced than other catfish, might have helped them become so diverse.

Where Loricariids Live

Loricariids are found across South America, on both sides of the Andes mountains. Most species live in small areas. They mainly live in freshwater, but some are found in Panama and Costa Rica.

These fish can live in many different water environments. You can find them in fast-flowing mountain rivers, quiet salty areas near the coast, dark acidic waters, and even in underground caves! They can live from lowlands all the way up to mountains 3,000 meters (about 9,800 feet) high.

Amazing Features and How They Live

Loricariids come in many different colors and body shapes. They are famous for their bony plates, which cover their bodies like armor. This is where their name comes from, as lorica means "corselet" (a type of armor) in Latin.

They have a special suckermouth on their underside, with small bumps called papillae on their lips. This mouth helps them stick to things, breathe, and eat. They can even suck onto surfaces while still breathing! They do this by pressing their lips down and making a vacuum inside their mouth.

Unlike most other catfish, loricariids can move their upper jaws a lot. They use both their upper and lower jaws to scrape food off surfaces. Their lower jaws are especially good at moving.

Many loricariids have long intestines because they usually eat plants (they are herbivores) or decaying matter (they are detritivores). Their bodies are often flattened. They even have taste buds all over their bodies and on their fin spines! These fish can be tiny, like Nannoplecostomus eleonorae at only 2.22 cm (less than an inch), or very large, like Panaque or Acanthicus, which can grow over 100 cm (about 3 feet) long!

Some loricariids can breathe air, especially if the water doesn't have much oxygen. They can use their stomachs as an extra breathing organ! Some species, like Pterygoplichthys, can even survive out of water for many hours.

Omega Iris: A Special Eye

Many loricariids have a very unusual eye feature called an omega iris. The top part of their eye's iris can expand downwards over the pupil, forming a loop. When there's a lot of light, this loop expands and covers the center of the pupil, making the pupil look like an upside-down Greek letter omega (Ω). This might help them blend in with their surroundings or control how much light gets into their eyes.

Reproduction and Family Life

Loricariids show interesting differences between males and females, especially during breeding season. For example, male Loricariichthys have a large lower lip that they use to hold a bunch of eggs. Male Ancistrus have fleshy tentacles on their snouts.

Many loricariids have sharp, movable spines on their cheeks, especially the males. These are used when males compete with each other.

Loricariids have many ways of having babies. Some lay eggs in caves, others attach them to the underside of rocks, and some males even carry the eggs. The fathers usually take good care of the eggs and young fish. The eggs hatch after 4 to 20 days, depending on the species.

Some loricariids that live in underground caves have adapted to their dark homes. They have less color (appearing whitish) and smaller eyes. Similar changes are seen in some loricariids that live in very deep parts of large rivers.

Loricariids in Your Aquarium

Pterygoplichthys multiradiatus, often sold as a common pleco, is an aquarium fish often purchased as an algae eater.

Loricariids are very popular aquarium fish, often called "plecs" or "plecos." People often buy them because they think these fish will eat all the algae in their tank. While some do eat algae, many are actually detritivores, meaning they prefer to eat decaying plant matter and other bits of food. Many species are also bought just because they look cool, with all their different shapes and colors!

Most loricariids are active at night and don't like bright lights. They appreciate places to hide during the day. Since many come from fast-moving waters, your aquarium should have strong filtration to keep the water clean and moving.

Many types of loricariids have been successfully bred in fish tanks.

Images for kids

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  Panaque nigrolineatus attached to a piece of wood

See also

In Spanish: Loricáridos para niños