Genus

 

Length (total)

Body
height

dorsal
fin
soft
rays

Adi
pose

 

Acanthicus
Spix / Agassiz, 1829
Elfenwelse

120

flat

flat head, heavy growth with odontodes

Acestridium
Hasemann, 1912

7

normal

needle-shaped, rounded caudal

Ancistomus
Isbrücker & Seidel, 2001
Trugschilderwelse
Peckoltia (snethlageae-Gruppe)

25

normal

7

yes

elongated than Peckoltia

Ancistrini
Kner, 1853

35

 

 

not
all

Ancistrus
Kner, 1854
Antennenwelse

30

flat

yes

Tentacles on the head

Andeancistrus
Lujan, Meza-Vargas & Barriga-Salazar, 2015

18

normal

7

yes

Aphanotorulus
Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1983
Leopardschilderwelse
 (frankei-Gruppe)

65

flat

yes

Leopard pattern, lobes of the caudal fin approximately the same length

Apistoloricaria
Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1986

16

very flat

Aposturisoma
Isbrücker, Britski, Nijssen & Ortega, 1983

25

 

Araichthys
Zawadzki, Bifi & Mariotto, 2016

11

 

7

Avalithoxus
Lujan, Armbruster & Lovejoy, 2018

6

very flat

 

yes

Mouth: jagged edge striking circular

Baryancistrus
Rapp Py-Daniel, 1989
Prachtharnischwelse

40

height

7

yes

Dorsal fin and adipose fin are connected to a diaphragm

Brochiloricaria
Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1979

40

flat

 

teeth with equal size on both jaws

Chaetostoma
Heckel in Tschudi, 1845
Gebirgsharnischwelse

30

very flat

not
all

"rubber mouth"

Chauliocheilos
Martins, Andrade, Rosa & Langeani, 2014

7

 

 

Cheilonimata
Provenzano-Rizzi, 2023

9

very flat

 

Cochliodon
Heckel in Kner, 1854

Hypostomus (cochliodon-Gruppe)

50

very height

7

not
all

few spoon-shaped teeth, jaws v-shaped

Cordylancistrus
Isbrücker, 1980
Breitkopf-Gebirgsharnischwelse

18

very flat

yes

haunch-shaped head

Corumbataia
Britski, 1997

8

 

7

Corymbophanes
Eigenmann, 1909

13

very flat

7

Crossoloricaria
Issbrücker, 1979

30

very flat

 

Cryptancistrus
Fisch-Muller, Mol & Covain, 2018

8

 

 

 

Cteniloricaria
Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1979

20

very flat

7

Curculionichthys
Roxo, da Costa e Silva, Orrego & Oliveira, 2015

4

 

 

Dasyloricaria
Isbrücker, Nijssen, 1979

40

height

 

Dekeyseria
Rapp Py-Daniel, 1985
Rotdornharnischwels

25

very flat

7

yes

afterbody strongly keeled

Delturus
Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1889

30

flat

yes

flat, strong keel before adipose fin

Dentectus
Salazar, Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1982

15

very flat

Dolichancistrus
Isbrücker, 1980
Langstachel-Gebirgsharnischwelse

18

very flat

yes

"rubber mouth", many small bristles along the snout

Epactionotus
Reis & Schaefer, 1998

5

 

 

 

Etsaputu
Lujan, Armbruster & Rengifo, 2011

12

normal

7

yes

Eurycheilichthys
Reis & Schaefer, 1992

9

 

 

7 soft rays in the pectoral fin

Euryochus
Pereira & Reis, 2017

15

 

 

 

Exastilithoxus
Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1979
Fransenmaul-Stromschnellen-Harnischwels

8

very flat

yes

jagged mouth with many lip barbels!

Farlowella
Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1889
Schnabel-, Faden-, Nadelwelse

30

 

 

Fonchiiichthys
Isbrücker & Michels, 2001

20

flat

 

 

Fonchiiloricaria
Rodriguez, Ortega & Covain, 2011

20

 

 

12 soft rays in the caudal fin

Furcodontichthys
Rapp Py-Daniel, 1981

15

flat

2 large, widely branched lip barbels, pointed head

Glyptoperichthys
Weber, 1991
Segelschilderwelse
Pterygoplichthys

60

height

yes

bumps on the supraoccipital plate

Guyanancistrus
Isbrücker, 2001

Pseudancistrus (brevispinis-Gruppe)

21

very flat

7

yes

relatively large, very small maxillary barbels

Gymnotocinclus
Carvalho, Lehmann, Reis, 2008

8

normal

7

Harttia
Steindachner, 1876

20

very flat

very broad, flattened caudal peduncle

Harttiella
Boeseman, 1971

7

very flat

Hemiancistrus
Bleeker, 1862
Großaugen-Harnischwelse

50

normal

7

yes

Collection of genera

Hemiloricaria
Bleeker, 1862
Hexenwelse

25

very flat

Hemiodontichthys
Bleeker, 1862

15

flat

Hemipsilichthys
Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1889

16

 

not
all

Hirtella
Pereira, Zanata, Cetra & Reis, 2014

7

 

 

 

Hisonotus
Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1889

7

very flat

Hopliancistrus
Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1989
Dreihornharnischwelse

22

very flat

 

yes

three extremely strong odontodes behind the gill cover

Hypancistrus
Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1991

35

normal

yes

relatively small mouth, greatly reduced dentition

Hypoptopoma
Günther, 1868

13

very flat

7

yes

far outside eyes, spatulate body, strong armor

Hypostomus
Lacépède, 1803
Schilderwelse

60

height

yes

no odontodes of interoperculum, usually colored inconspicuous

Isbrueckerichthys
Derijst, 1996

13

 

7

 

Isorineloricaria
Isbrücker, 1980
Igel-Harnischwelse
 (spinossissimus-group)

85

flat

 

yes

extremely long by greatly elongated, thin, round caudal peduncle

Ixinandria
Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1979

13

very flat

 

Kronichthys
Miranda Ribeiro, 1908

15

 

yes

Lamontichthys
Miranda Ribeiro, 1939

28

normal

 

Lampiella
Isbrücker, 2001

6

height

 

Lasiancistrus
Regan, 1904
Deltaschwanzwelse

25

very flat

yes

thick and thin odontodes on the operculum

Leliella
Isbrücker, 2001

17

flat

 

Leporacanthicus
Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1989
Rüsselzahnwelse

30

normal

yes

"Buck teeth", upper lip has barbels!

Leptoancistrus
Meek & Hildebrand, 1916
Hochgebirgs-Harnischwelse

10

very flat

no anal fin

Leptotocinclus
Delapieve, Lehmann & Reis, 2017

5

normal

 

 

Limatulichthys
Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1979

28

flat

Lipopterichthys
Norman, 1935

10

 

 

 

only 12 soft rays in caudal fin

Liposarcus
Günther, 1864
Segelschilderwelse
Pterygoplichthys (multiradiatus-Gruppe)

60

height

yes

no bumps on the supraoccipital plate

Lithogenes
Eigenmann, 1909

9

 

yes

Lithoxancistrus
Isbrücker, Nijssen & Cala, 1988
Flachkopfharnischwelse
Pseudancistrus (orinoco-Gruppe)

20

very flat

7

yes

Lithoxus
Eigenmann, 1910

9

very flat

 

not
all

Mouth: jagged edge striking circular

Loraxichthys
Salcedo, 2013

7

flat

 

Loricaria
Linnaeus, 1758

35

flat

finely feathery mouth

Loricariichthys
Bleeker, 1862
Riesenhexenwelse

50

flat

 

Megalancistrus
Isbrücker, 1980
Riesenkaktuswelse

80

height

yes

massive

Metaloricaria
Isbrücker, 1975

35

 

Micracanthicus
Lujan & Armbruster, 2011

8

flat

 

 

Microlepidogaster
Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1889
Hisonotus

8

 

Microplecostomus
Silva, Roxo, Orrego & Oliveira , 2016

5

normal

7

 

Nannoplecostomus
Ribeiro, Lima & Pereira , 2012

3

 

 

 

Nannoptopoma
Schaefer, 1996

6

 

 

Nannoxyropsis
Delapieve, Lehmann & Reis, 2017

6

normal

7

 

Neblinichthys
Ferraris, Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1889
Neblina-Harnischwelse

10

very flat

yes

males have on the head are long, forward looking odontodes

Neoplecostomus
Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1888

13

 

7

yes

Niobichthys
Schaefer & Provenzano, 1998

10

very flat

 

afterbody and caudal peduncle strongly flattened

Oligancistrus
Rapp Py-Daniel, 1989
Segelflossenharnischwels
Spectracanthicus

20

normal

7

yes

Otocinclus
Cope, 1872
Trommelfell-Welse

8

 

Otothyris
Myers, 1927

4

 

7

Otothyropsis
Ribeiro, Carvalho & Melo, 2005

6

 

 

 

Oxyropsis
Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1889

9

 

 

Panaqolus
Isbrücker & Schraml, 2001
Zwergschilderwelse, Tigerharnischwelse
Panaque (dentex-Gruppe)

20

normal

yes

jaw mostly strong v-shaped

Panaque
Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1889

70

very height

7

yes

jaw mostly strong v-shaped

Paralithoxus
Boeseman, 1982

8

very flat

 

yes

Mouth: jagged edge striking circular

Paraloricaria
Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1979

60

flat

 

yes

Parancistrus
Bleeker, 1862
Breitkopfharnischwelse

25

very flat

7

yes

first ray of the dorsal severely bent, huge gill opening

Pareiorhaphis
Miranda Ribeiro, 1918

17

flat

7

not
all

Pareiorhina
Gosline, 1947

7

 

7

Parotocinclus
Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1889

8

 

yes

Paulasquama
Armbruster & Taphorn, 2011

7

very flat

7

yes

Peckoltia
Miranda-Ribeiro, 1912
Zwergschilderwels

50

normal

yes

Peckoltichthys
Miranda-Ribeiro, 1917
Flachstirnharnischwelse
Peckoltia (ucayalensis-Gruppe)

15

height

7

yes

elongated, flat forehead

Planiloricaria
Isbrücker, 1971

35

very flat

 

very small eyes, disk-shaped head

Plesioptopoma
Reis, Pereira & Lehmann, 2012

10

 

 

 

Pogonopoma
Regan, 1904
Tannenzapfen-Harnischwels

45

flat

not
all

Proloricaria
Isbrücker, 2001

50

flat

 

 

Pseudacanthicus
Bleeker, 1882
Kaktuswelse

100

height

yes

strongly keeled, thorn-like odontodes

Pseudancistrus
Bleeker, 1862
Borstenkranz-Harnischwelse

25

flat

yes

long beard from odontodes

Pseudohemiodon
Bleeker, 1862
Flunderharnischwelse

35

very flat

 

Pseudolithoxus
Isbrücker / Werner, 2001
Fliegerharnischwelse
Lasiancistrus (anthrax-Gruppe)

20

very flat

yes

very long pectoral fins

Pseudoloricaria
Blecker, 1862

30

flat

 

Pseudoqolus
Lujan, Cramer, Covain, Fisch-Muller & López-Fernández, 2017

20

normal

7

yes

Pseudorinelepis
Bleekter, 1862
Tannenzapfen-Harnischwels

60

flat

no iris cloth, pinecone-like bone plates, flat head

Pseudotocinclus
Nichols, 1919

8

 

Pseudotothyris
Britski & Garavello, 1984

5

 

Pterosturisoma
Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1978

20

flat

Pterygoplichthys
Gill, 1858
Segelschilderwelse

40

height

yes

no bumps on the supraoccipital plate

Pyxiloricaria
Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1984

20

very flat

 

triangular head

Reganella
Eigenmann, 1905

15

very flat

Rhadinoloricaria
Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1974

17

very flat

 

long, pointed head

Rhinelepis
Spix, 1829
Tannenzapfen-Harnischwelse

70

flat

7

no iris cloth, pinecone-like bone plates, flat head

Rhinolekos
F. de Oliveira Martins & F. Langeani, 2011

6

flat

Rhinotocinclus
Reis & Lehmann, 2022

5

 

 

yes

Ricola
Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1978

25

flat

 

 

Rineloricaria
Bleeker, 1862

36

 

 

Schizolecis
Britski & Garavello, 1984

5

height

 

Scobinancistrus
Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1989
Pfauenharnischwelse

40

flat

7

yes

very few long teeth, elongated

Soromonichthys
Lujan & Armbruster, 2011

4

flat

7

yes

Spatuloricaria
Schulz, 1944
Kammharnischwelse

60

very flat

7

Spectracanthicus
Nijssen & Isbrücker, 1987
Falsche Rüsselzahnwelse

15

flat

7

yes

"Buck teeth", upper lip has no barbels! very pointed head

Squaliforma
Isbrücker & Michels, 2001
Haischilderwelse
Aphanotorulus (emarginatus-Gruppe)

65

flat

7

yes

Leopard pattern, lower lobe of the caudal fin is longer

Sturisoma
Swainson, 1838
Störwelse

30

 

 

Sturisomatichthys
Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1979

27

 

7

Transancistrus
Lujan, Meza-Vargas & Barriga-Salazar, 2015

10

very flat

7

 

Yaluwak
Lujan & Armbruster, 2019

15

 

 

Zonancistrus
Isbrücker, 2001
Schmetterlingsharnischwelse
Dekeyseria (brachyura-Gruppe)

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

Juan Guillermo Ospina Pabon (CC BY-NC 3.0)

13, 16

A.R. Manzotti (CC BY-NC 3.0)

14

Field Museum of Natural History (CC BY-NC 4.0)

15

Fisch-Muller, Mol & Covain (CC BY 4.0)

17

The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London (CC BY 4.0)

18, 103

Manzotti, Angelo Rodrigo (CC BY-NC 3.0)

19

Londoño-Burbano & Reis (CC BY 4.0)

20

President and Fellows of Harvard College (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0)

22

Roberto E. Reis (CC BY 4.0)

25

Steindachner, Franz (1917) (PD)

26

27, 38, 57, 75, 78, 99, 108, 109

R. Kner & F. Steindachner (CC BY-NC 4.0)

28

29

Hans-Georg Evers

30, 49, 59, 79, 84, 94, 105

31

Bubu Schmidt

32

Tiago Carvalho (CC BY-NC 3.0)

33

V. de Brito & P.A. Buckup (CC BY 4.0)

34, 80

35

36

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

A. Frota, H.J. Message, R.C. de Oliveira, E. Benedito & W.J. da Graça (CC BY 4.0)

45

Felipe Alonso

47

Sven Nowack

48, 89

Brenda Irwin

51

52

Delapieve, Lehmann & Reis (CC BY 4.0)

53, 66

The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London (CC BY 4.0)

55

Field Museum of Natural History (CC BY-NC 4.0)

56

Muséum National D'Histoire Naturelle (CC BY-NC 3.0)

60

Sandra Udrizar

61

62

Bárbara B. Calegari (CC BY-NC 3.0)

63, 72

G.S.C. Silva, F.F. Roxo, L.E. Orrego, C. Oliveira (CC BY 4.0)

64

The Field Museum - O.M. Ribeiro (CC BY-NC 4.0)

67

Cherobim, Lazzarotto, Langeani (CC BY 4.0)

68

E.D. Cope (PD)

70

Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0)

71

Mitsuhiro Iwamoto

73

The Field Museum - Michael W. Littmann (CC BY-NC 4.0)

74

The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London (CC BY 4.0)

76

Paul Louis Oudart (1796–1860)

77

The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London (CC BY 4.0)

83

85

87

88

Collins, Ribeiro, Machado, Hrbek & Farias (CC BY 4.0)

91

A.K. Takako, C. Oliveira & O.T. Oyakawa (CC BY-NC 4.0)

93

Augusto Bentinho

96

R.R. Ota, G. de Carvalho Deprá, W.J. da Graça & C.S. Pavanelli (CC BY-NC 4.0)

100

Martins & Langeani (CC BY-NC 4.0)

101

Rudolph Kner (1854) (PD)

104

Ilka Baumann

106

Kner (1857) (PD)

110

Armin Ackermann

111, 112

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https://www.suedamerikafans.de/en/wels-datenbank/wels-gattungen/?familie_name=Loricariidae