Genera of Catfishes

Families

Family
Subfamily

with genus

Genus
 
Length (total)
Body
height
dorsal
fin
soft
rays
Adi
pose
 
Acanthicus
Spix / Agassiz, 1829
Elfenwelse
Acanthicus
120
flat
8 ( - 9)
no
flat head, heavy growth with odontodes
Acestridium
Hasemann, 1912

Acestridium
7
normal
7
no
needle-shaped, rounded caudal
Ancistomus
Isbrücker & Seidel, 2001
Trugschilderwelse
Peckoltia (snethlageae-Gruppe)
Ancistomus
25
normal
7
yes
elongated than Peckoltia
Ancistrini
Kner, 1853

Ancistrini
35
 
 
not
all
Ancistrus
Kner, 1854
Antennenwelse
Ancistrus
30
flat
(6 - ) 7 ( - 10)
yes
Tentacles on the head
Andeancistrus
Lujan, Meza-Vargas & Barriga-Salazar, 2015

Andeancistrus
18
normal
7
yes
Aphanotorulus
Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1983
Leopardschilderwelse
 (frankei-Gruppe)
Aphanotorulus
65
flat
7
yes
Leopard pattern, lobes of the caudal fin approximately the same length
Apistoloricaria
Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1986

Apistoloricaria
16
very flat
6
no
Aposturisoma
Isbrücker, Britski, Nijssen & Ortega, 1983

Aposturisoma
25
 
5
no
Araichthys
Zawadzki, Bifi & Mariotto, 2016

Araichthys
11
 
7
no
Avalithoxus
Lujan, Armbruster & Lovejoy, 2018

Avalithoxus
6
very flat
 
yes
Mouth: jagged edge striking circular
Baryancistrus
Rapp Py-Daniel, 1989
Prachtharnischwelse
Baryancistrus
40
height
7
yes
Dorsal fin and adipose fin are connected to a diaphragm
Brochiloricaria
Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1979

Brochiloricaria
40
flat
 
no
teeth with equal size on both jaws
Chaetostoma
Heckel in Tschudi, 1845
Gebirgsharnischwelse
Chaetostoma
30
very flat
(5 - ) 7 - 10
not
all
"rubber mouth"
Chauliocheilos
Martins, Andrade, Rosa & Langeani, 2014

Chauliocheilos
7
 
 
no
Cheilonimata
Provenzano-Rizzi, 2023

Cheilonimata
9
very flat
 
no
Cochliodon
Heckel in Kner, 1854

Hypostomus (cochliodon-Gruppe)
Cochliodon
50
very height
7
not
all
few spoon-shaped teeth, jaws v-shaped
Cordylancistrus
Isbrücker, 1980
Breitkopf-Gebirgsharnischwelse
Cordylancistrus
18
very flat
8 ( - 9)
yes
haunch-shaped head
Corumbataia
Britski, 1997

Corumbataia
8
 
7
no
Corymbophanes
Eigenmann, 1909

Corymbophanes
13
very flat
7
no
Crossoloricaria
Issbrücker, 1979

Crossoloricaria
30
very flat
 
no
Cryptancistrus
Fisch-Muller, Mol & Covain, 2018

Cryptancistrus
8
 
 
 
Cteniloricaria
Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1979

Cteniloricaria
20
very flat
7
no
Curculionichthys
Roxo, da Costa e Silva, Orrego & Oliveira, 2015

Curculionichthys
4
 
7 - 8
 
Dasyloricaria
Isbrücker, Nijssen, 1979

Dasyloricaria
40
height
 
no
Dekeyseria
Rapp Py-Daniel, 1985
Rotdornharnischwels
Dekeyseria
25
very flat
7
yes
afterbody strongly keeled
Delturus
Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1889

Delturus
30
flat
8 - 10
yes
flat, strong keel before adipose fin
Dentectus
Salazar, Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1982

Dentectus
15
very flat
6
no
Dolichancistrus
Isbrücker, 1980
Langstachel-Gebirgsharnischwelse
Dolichancistrus
18
very flat
(7 - ) 8 - 9 ( - 11)
yes
"rubber mouth", many small bristles along the snout
Epactionotus
Reis & Schaefer, 1998

Epactionotus
5
 
 
 
Etsaputu
Lujan, Armbruster & Rengifo, 2011

Etsaputu
12
normal
7
yes
Eurycheilichthys
Reis & Schaefer, 1992

Eurycheilichthys
9
 
 
no
7 soft rays in the pectoral fin
Euryochus
Pereira & Reis, 2017

Euryochus
15
 
 
 
Exastilithoxus
Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1979
Fransenmaul-Stromschnellen-Harnischwels
Exastilithoxus
8
very flat
6 - 7
yes
jagged mouth with many lip barbels!
Farlowella
Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1889
Schnabel-, Faden-, Nadelwelse
Farlowella
30
 
 
no
Fonchiiichthys
Isbrücker & Michels, 2001

Fonchiiichthys
20
flat
 
 
Fonchiiloricaria
Rodriguez, Ortega & Covain, 2011

Fonchiiloricaria
20
 
 
no
12 soft rays in the caudal fin
Furcodontichthys
Rapp Py-Daniel, 1981

Furcodontichthys
15
flat
6
no
2 large, widely branched lip barbels, pointed head
Glyptoperichthys
Weber, 1991
Segelschilderwelse
Pterygoplichthys
Glyptoperichthys
60
height
(11 - ) 12 - 14
yes
bumps on the supraoccipital plate
Guyanancistrus
Isbrücker, 2001

Pseudancistrus (brevispinis-Gruppe)
Guyanancistrus
21
very flat
7
yes
relatively large, very small maxillary barbels
Gymnotocinclus
Carvalho, Lehmann, Reis, 2008

Gymnotocinclus
8
normal
7
no
Harttia
Steindachner, 1876

Harttia
20
very flat
6
no
very broad, flattened caudal peduncle
Harttiella
Boeseman, 1971

Harttiella
7
very flat
6 - 7
no
Hemiancistrus
Bleeker, 1862
Großaugen-Harnischwelse
Hemiancistrus
50
normal
7
yes
Collection of genera
Hemiloricaria
Bleeker, 1862
Hexenwelse
Hemiloricaria
25
very flat
7 ( - 8)
no
Hemiodontichthys
Bleeker, 1862

Hemiodontichthys
15
flat
6
no
Hemipsilichthys
Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1889

Hemipsilichthys
16
 
7 ( - 9)
not
all
Hirtella
Pereira, Zanata, Cetra & Reis, 2014

Hirtella
7
 
 
 
Hisonotus
Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1889

Hisonotus
7
very flat
(6 - ) 7
no
Hopliancistrus
Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1989
Dreihornharnischwelse
Hopliancistrus
22
very flat
 
yes
three extremely strong odontodes behind the gill cover
Hypancistrus
Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1991

Hypancistrus
35
normal
7 ( - 8)
yes
relatively small mouth, greatly reduced dentition
Hypoptopoma
Günther, 1868

Hypoptopoma
13
very flat
7
yes
far outside eyes, spatulate body, strong armor
Hypostomus
Lacépède, 1803
Schilderwelse
Hypostomus
60
height
7 ( - 11)
yes
no odontodes of interoperculum, usually colored inconspicuous
Isbrueckerichthys
Derijst, 1996

Isbrueckerichthys
13
 
7
 
Isorineloricaria
Isbrücker, 1980
Igel-Harnischwelse
 (spinossissimus-group)
Isorineloricaria
85
flat
 
yes
extremely long by greatly elongated, thin, round caudal peduncle
Ixinandria
Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1979

Ixinandria
13
very flat
 
no
Kronichthys
Miranda Ribeiro, 1908

Kronichthys
15
 
7 - 8
yes
Lamontichthys
Miranda Ribeiro, 1939

Lamontichthys
28
normal
 
no
Lampiella
Isbrücker, 2001

Lampiella
6
height
 
no
Lasiancistrus
Regan, 1904
Deltaschwanzwelse
Lasiancistrus
25
very flat
7 - 8
yes
thick and thin odontodes on the operculum
Leliella
Isbrücker, 2001

Leliella
17
flat
 
no
Leporacanthicus
Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1989
Rüsselzahnwelse
Leporacanthicus
30
normal
8
yes
"Buck teeth", upper lip has barbels!
Leptoancistrus
Meek & Hildebrand, 1916
Hochgebirgs-Harnischwelse
Leptoancistrus
10
very flat
8
no
no anal fin
Leptotocinclus
Delapieve, Lehmann & Reis, 2017

Leptotocinclus
5
normal
 
 
Limatulichthys
Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1979

Limatulichthys
28
flat
6
no
Lipopterichthys
Norman, 1935

Lipopterichthys
10
 
 
 
only 12 soft rays in caudal fin
Liposarcus
Günther, 1864
Segelschilderwelse
Pterygoplichthys (multiradiatus-Gruppe)
Liposarcus
60
height
(11 - ) 12 - 14
yes
no bumps on the supraoccipital plate
Lithogenes
Eigenmann, 1909

Lithogenes
9
 
7 - 8
yes
Lithoxancistrus
Isbrücker, Nijssen & Cala, 1988
Flachkopfharnischwelse
Pseudancistrus (orinoco-Gruppe)
Lithoxancistrus
20
very flat
7
yes
Lithoxus
Eigenmann, 1910

Lithoxus
9
very flat
 
not
all
Mouth: jagged edge striking circular
Loraxichthys
Salcedo, 2013

Loraxichthys
7
flat
 
no
Loricaria
Linnaeus, 1758

Loricaria
35
flat
6 - 7
no
finely feathery mouth
Loricariichthys
Bleeker, 1862
Riesenhexenwelse
Loricariichthys
50
flat
 
no
Megalancistrus
Isbrücker, 1980
Riesenkaktuswelse
Megalancistrus
80
height
(9 - ) 10 ( - 11)
yes
massive
Metaloricaria
Isbrücker, 1975

Metaloricaria
35
 
6
no
Micracanthicus
Lujan & Armbruster, 2011

Micracanthicus
8
flat
 
 
Microlepidogaster
Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1889
Hisonotus
Microlepidogaster
8
 
6 - 7
no
Microplecostomus
Silva, Roxo, Orrego & Oliveira , 2016

Microplecostomus
5
normal
7
 
Nannoplecostomus
Ribeiro, Lima & Pereira , 2012

Nannoplecostomus
3
 
 
 
Nannoptopoma
Schaefer, 1996

Nannoptopoma
6
 
 
no
Nannoxyropsis
Delapieve, Lehmann & Reis, 2017

Nannoxyropsis
6
normal
7
 
Neblinichthys
Ferraris, Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1889
Neblina-Harnischwelse
Neblinichthys
10
very flat
(6 - ) 7 ( - 8)
yes
males have on the head are long, forward looking odontodes
Neoplecostomus
Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1888

Neoplecostomus
13
 
7
yes
Niobichthys
Schaefer & Provenzano, 1998

Niobichthys
10
very flat
 
no
afterbody and caudal peduncle strongly flattened
Oligancistrus
Rapp Py-Daniel, 1989
Segelflossenharnischwels
Spectracanthicus
Oligancistrus
20
normal
7
yes
Otocinclus
Cope, 1872
Trommelfell-Welse
Otocinclus
8
 
6 ( - 8)
no
Otothyris
Myers, 1927

Otothyris
4
 
7
no
Otothyropsis
Ribeiro, Carvalho & Melo, 2005

Otothyropsis
6
 
 
 
Oxyropsis
Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1889

Oxyropsis
9
 
 
no
Panaqolus
Isbrücker & Schraml, 2001
Zwergschilderwelse, Tigerharnischwelse
Panaque (dentex-Gruppe)
Panaqolus
20
normal
7 ( - 8)
yes
jaw mostly strong v-shaped
Panaque
Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1889

Panaque
70
very height
7
yes
jaw mostly strong v-shaped
Paralithoxus
Boeseman, 1982

Paralithoxus
8
very flat
 
yes
Mouth: jagged edge striking circular
Paraloricaria
Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1979

Paraloricaria
60
flat
 
yes
Parancistrus
Bleeker, 1862
Breitkopfharnischwelse
Parancistrus
25
very flat
7
yes
first ray of the dorsal severely bent, huge gill opening
Pareiorhaphis
Miranda Ribeiro, 1918

Pareiorhaphis
17
flat
7
not
all
Pareiorhina
Gosline, 1947

Pareiorhina
7
 
7
no
Parotocinclus
Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1889

Parotocinclus
8
 
6 - 7
yes
Paulasquama
Armbruster & Taphorn, 2011

Paulasquama
7
very flat
7
yes
Peckoltia
Miranda-Ribeiro, 1912
Zwergschilderwels
Peckoltia
50
normal
7 ( - 8)
yes
Peckoltichthys
Miranda-Ribeiro, 1917
Flachstirnharnischwelse
Peckoltia (ucayalensis-Gruppe)
Peckoltichthys
15
height
7
yes
elongated, flat forehead
Planiloricaria
Isbrücker, 1971

Planiloricaria
35
very flat
 
no
very small eyes, disk-shaped head
Plesioptopoma
Reis, Pereira & Lehmann, 2012

Plesioptopoma
10
 
 
 
Pogonopoma
Regan, 1904
Tannenzapfen-Harnischwels
Pogonopoma
45
flat
7 - 8 ( - 11)
not
all
Proloricaria
Isbrücker, 2001

Proloricaria
50
flat
 
 
Pseudacanthicus
Bleeker, 1882
Kaktuswelse
Pseudacanthicus
100
height
8 - 9
yes
strongly keeled, thorn-like odontodes
Pseudancistrus
Bleeker, 1862
Borstenkranz-Harnischwelse
Pseudancistrus
25
flat
7 ( - 11)
yes
long beard from odontodes
Pseudohemiodon
Bleeker, 1862
Flunderharnischwelse
Pseudohemiodon
35
very flat
 
no
Pseudolithoxus
Isbrücker / Werner, 2001
Fliegerharnischwelse
Lasiancistrus (anthrax-Gruppe)
Pseudolithoxus
20
very flat
7 ( - 8)
yes
very long pectoral fins
Pseudoloricaria
Blecker, 1862

Pseudoloricaria
30
flat
 
no
Pseudoqolus
Lujan, Cramer, Covain, Fisch-Muller & López-Fernández, 2017

Pseudoqolus
20
normal
7
yes
Pseudorinelepis
Bleekter, 1862
Tannenzapfen-Harnischwels
Pseudorinelepis
60
flat
7 - 8
no
no iris cloth, pinecone-like bone plates, flat head
Pseudotocinclus
Nichols, 1919

Pseudotocinclus
8
 
(6 - ) 7
no
Pseudotothyris
Britski & Garavello, 1984

Pseudotothyris
5
 
(6 - ) 7
no
Pterosturisoma
Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1978

Pterosturisoma
20
flat
6
no
Pterygoplichthys
Gill, 1858
Segelschilderwelse
Pterygoplichthys
40
height
10 - 11 ( - 12)
yes
no bumps on the supraoccipital plate
Pyxiloricaria
Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1984

Pyxiloricaria
20
very flat
 
no
triangular head
Reganella
Eigenmann, 1905

Reganella
15
very flat
6
no
Rhadinoloricaria
Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1974

Rhadinoloricaria
17
very flat
 
no
long, pointed head
Rhinelepis
Spix, 1829
Tannenzapfen-Harnischwelse
Rhinelepis
70
flat
7
no
no iris cloth, pinecone-like bone plates, flat head
Rhinolekos
F. de Oliveira Martins & F. Langeani, 2011

Rhinolekos
6
flat
6 - 7
no
Rhinotocinclus
Reis & Lehmann, 2022

Rhinotocinclus
5
 
 
yes
Ricola
Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1978

Ricola
25
flat
 
 
Rineloricaria
Bleeker, 1862

Rineloricaria
36
 
 
no
Schizolecis
Britski & Garavello, 1984

Schizolecis
5
height
 
no
Scobinancistrus
Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1989
Pfauenharnischwelse
Scobinancistrus
40
flat
7
yes
very few long teeth, elongated
Soromonichthys
Lujan & Armbruster, 2011

Soromonichthys
4
flat
7
yes
Spatuloricaria
Schulz, 1944
Kammharnischwelse
Spatuloricaria
60
very flat
7
no
Spectracanthicus
Nijssen & Isbrücker, 1987
Falsche Rüsselzahnwelse
Spectracanthicus
15
flat
7
yes
"Buck teeth", upper lip has no barbels! very pointed head
Squaliforma
Isbrücker & Michels, 2001
Haischilderwelse
Aphanotorulus (emarginatus-Gruppe)
Squaliforma
65
flat
7
yes
Leopard pattern, lower lobe of the caudal fin is longer
Sturisoma
Swainson, 1838
Störwelse
Sturisoma
35
 
 
no
Sturisomatichthys
Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1979

Sturisomatichthys
27
 
7
no
Transancistrus
Lujan, Meza-Vargas & Barriga-Salazar, 2015

Transancistrus
10
very flat
7
 
Yaluwak
Lujan & Armbruster, 2019

Yaluwak
15
 
 
no
Zonancistrus
Isbrücker, 2001
Schmetterlingsharnischwelse
Dekeyseria (brachyura-Gruppe)
Zonancistrus
18
very flat
7
yes
conspicuous bands, caudal peduncle strongly keeled, long, pointed head
134 entries found
Many thanks to
for the pictures
Ingo Seidel
4, 6, 7, 10, 21, 23, 39, 40, 46, 81, 92, 95, 97, 98
5, 8, 58, 107, 113
J. J. von Tschudi
11
H. P. Risch
12
President and Fellows of Harvard College (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0)
22
Steindachner, Franz (1917) (PD)
26
27, 38, 57, 75, 78, 99, 108, 109
Hans-Georg Evers
30, 49, 59, 79, 84, 94, 105
Bubu Schmidt
32
Tiago Carvalho (CC BY-NC 3.0)
33
Jansen Zuanon (CC BY-NC 3.0)
37
Eduardo Baena (CC BY-NC 3.0)
41
Carvalho et. al., 2009 (PD)
43
Shastri Ballyram
44
Felipe Alonso
47
Sven Nowack
48, 89
Brenda Irwin
51
Sandra Udrizar
61
Bárbara B. Calegari (CC BY-NC 3.0)
63, 72
Mitsuhiro Iwamoto
73
Paul Louis Oudart (1796–1860)
77
Augusto Bentinho
96
Rudolph Kner (1854) (PD)
104
Ilka Baumann
106
Kner (1857) (PD)
110
Armin Ackermann
111, 112
Please help with your pictures and information to complete the database: database(at)welsfans.de
https://www.suedamerikafans.de/en/wels-datenbank/wels-gattungen/?familie_name=Loricariidae