Loricariidae, Rafinesque, 1815

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 587

Family Loricariidae

Suckermouth catfishes

Sucker-mouth catfish, armored catfish, and plecos represent the largest catfish family, with approximately 110 genera and over 1000 species, many of which remain undescribed. These peculiar fishes are native to South and Central America and exhibit an astonishing diversity of body shapes, colours, sizes, and adaptations. They are distinguished by several characteristics, including a scale-less body covered with bony plates on the back and flank, a sucker-like mouth (often with highly specialised teeth), and papillate lips. In all species, the males perform parental care until the young have resorbed their yolk-sack. Most species can gulp air and have many other special morphological and ecological adaptations. In West Asia, one species has been released into a limited number of water bodies, where it has become established. However, individuals might be found in virtually all locations, particularly in or around cities. Suckermouth catfishes cannot survive temperatures below 15°C for longer than a few days, which limits their distribution to warm springs in many regions. As several species of suckermouth catfish are kept in aquaria, the possibility of the release and subsequent establishment of other species cannot be ruled out. Specialist aquarium literature is likely to be of assistance in identifying these.

Further reading. Isbrücker 1980 (diversity); Nelson et al. 2016 (diversity).