Catfish of South America

Loricariidae is the largest family of catfish (order Siluriformes), with over 90 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; though only certain species are parasitic, those are some of the few parasitic chordates known. This family is prohibited from being imported into various parts of the United States due to their reputation as parasites.

The Doradidae are a family of catfishes also known as thorny catfishes, raphael catfishes or talking catfishes. These fish are native to South America, primarily the Amazon basin and the Guianas.

family of fishes

species of fish

Pterygoplichthys, sometimes collectively known as janitor fish, is a genus of South American armored catfishes. These fish are commonly known as sailfin armoured catfish or sailfin plecs, especially in the aquarium trade.

Scoloplax is a genus of freshwater ray-finned fishes, it is the only genus in the monotypic family Scoloplacidae, the spiny dwarf catfishes. The catfishes in this genus are found in South America.

The genus Panaque contains a small number of small to medium-sized South American suckermouth armoured catfishes that are notable for being among the very few vertebrates that feed extensively on wood. In addition, algae and aufwuchs are an important part of the diet, and they use their rasping teeth to scrape this from rocks. These fish are also popular aquarium fish, where the sound of scraping as these fish forage for food is easily audible.

catfish

species of fish

Platydoras is a small genus of thorny catfishes native to freshwater habitats in subtropical and tropical South America.

species of armored catfish

genus of fishes

species of fish

species of fish

species of fish

species of fish

species of fish

species of fish

species of fish

Pseudancistrus is a genus of suckermouth armored catfishes native to South America.

Ageneiosus is a genus of driftwood catfishes found mostly in South America with one species extending into Central America.

Tatia is a genus of small South American catfishes belonging to Auchenipteridae, the driftwood catfish family.

species of fish

species of fish

species of fish

species of fish

species of fish

Epactionotus is a genus of armored catfishes native to South America.

species of fish

species of fish

Acestridium is a genus of freshwater ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Loricariidae, the mailed catfishes, and the subfamily Hypoptopomatinae, the cascudinhos. The catfishes in this genus are found in South America.

species of fish

species of fish

species of fish

species of fish

Phreatobius, also known as cistern catfishes, is a genus of very small catfishes (order Siluriformes) from tropical South America.

species of fish

species of fish

Conorhynchos conirostris is a monotypic genus of catfish (order Siluriformes).

Acanthodoras is a genus of thorny catfishes native to rivers of tropical South America.

species of fish

species of fish

Ituglanis is a genus of small freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Trichomycteridae, the pencil and parasitic catfishes. These catfishes are found in South America. Their greatest diversity seems to occur in the Amazon River basin. Most species inhabit leaf litter, with several species living in caves.

species of fish

species of fish

Centromochlus is a genus of fish in the family Auchenipteridae native to South America.

species of fish

species of fish

species of fish

species of fish

species of fish

species of fish

species of fish

species of fish

Auchenipterus is a genus of driftwood catfishes (order Siluriformes).

species of fish

species of fish

Aguarunichthys is a genus of long-whiskered catfishes native to South America.

species of fish