The Hypostominae are a

subfamily In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end subfamily botanical names with "-oideae", and zoologi ...

catfish Catfish (or catfishes; order Siluriformes or Nematognathi) are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the three largest species alive, ...

es of the family

Loricariidae The Loricariidae is the largest family of catfish (order Siluriformes), with 92 genera and just over 680 species. Loricariids originate from freshwater habitats of Costa Rica, Panama, and tropical and subtropical South America. These fish are not ...

. Most members are restricted to tropical and subtropical South America, but there are also several species (in genera ''

Ancistrus ''Ancistrus'' is a genus of nocturnal freshwater fish in the family Loricariidae of order Siluriformes, native to freshwater habitats in South America and Panama. Fish of this genus are common in the aquarium trade where they are known as bushyn ...

'', '' Chaetostoma'', ''

Lasiancistrus ''Lasiancistrus'' is a genus of suckermouth armored catfishes. They are native to South America and Panama. Taxonomy ''Lasiancistrus'' was first described as a subgenus of ''Ancistrus'' in 1904, including ''A. heteracanthus'', ''A. pictus'', '' ...

'', '' Leptoancistrus'' and ''

Hemiancistrus ''Hemiancistrus'' is a genus of suckermouth armored catfishes. These species are native to South America. The taxonomy of this genus is complex and unclear, and major work has to be done. Many of these fish are popular aquarium fish. Taxonomy ...

'') in southern

Central America Central America ( es, América Central or ) is a subregion of the Americas. Its boundaries are defined as bordering the United States to the north, Colombia to the south, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. ...

. ''

Hypostomus plecostomus ''Hypostomus plecostomus'', also known as the suckermouth catfish or the common pleco, is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the armored catfish family (Loricariidae), named for the longitudinal rows of armor-like scutes that cover the upp ...

'', which is popular in the

aquarium An aquarium (plural: ''aquariums'' or ''aquaria'') is a vivarium of any size having at least one transparent side in which aquatic plants or animals are kept and displayed. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, aq ...

trade, has been introduced to several regions far from its native range. Studies conducted with representatives of some genera of Hypostominae showed, within this group, the

diploid number Ploidy () is the number of complete sets of chromosomes in a cell, and hence the number of possible alleles for autosomal and pseudoautosomal genes. Sets of chromosomes refer to the number of maternal and paternal chromosome copies, respective ...

ranges from 2n = 52 to 2n = 80. However, the supposed wide

karyotypic A karyotype is the general appearance of the complete set of metaphase chromosomes in the cells of a species or in an individual organism, mainly including their sizes, numbers, and shapes. Karyotyping is the process by which a karyotype is disce ...

diversity the family Loricariidae or the subfamily Hypostominae would present is almost exclusively restricted to the genus ''

Hypostomus ''Hypostomus'' is a genus of catfish in the family Loricariidae. They are native to tropical and subtropical South America. '' H. plecostomus'' is the popular freshwater aquarium fish formerly known as ''Plecostomus plecostomus''. The taxonomic ...

'', and the species from the other genera had a conserved diploid number.

Taxonomy

Ancistrini Ancistrini is a tribe of catfishes of the family Loricariidae. Most are restricted to tropical and subtropical South America, but there are also several genus (''Ancistrus'', '' Chaetostoma'', ''Hemiancistrus'' and ''Lasiancistrus'') in southern ...

(sometimes considered a separate subfamily as

Ancistrinae Ancistrini is a tribe of catfishes of the family Loricariidae. Most are restricted to tropical and subtropical South America, but there are also several genus (''Ancistrus'', '' Chaetostoma'', ''Hemiancistrus'' and '' Lasiancistrus'') in southern ...

) ** '' Acanthicus'' ** ''

'' ** ''

Andeancistrus ''Andeancistrus'' is a genus of suckermouth armored catfishes native to South America. This genus is diagnosable from all other members of the '' Chaetostoma'' group by having a fully plated snout, lacking cheek odontodes that extend past the ...

'' ** '' Araichthys'' ** '' Baryancistrus'' ** '' Chaetostoma'' ** '' Cordylancistrus'' ** ''

Corymbophanes ''Corymbophanes'' is a genus of armored catfish native to South America where they are only known from Guyana. ''Corymbophanes'' was originally placed in its own tribe Corymbophanini, but the first comprehensive molecular phylogenetic analysis ...

'' ** ''

Dekeyseria ''Dekeyseria'' is a genus of suckermouth armored catfishes native to tropical South America. Species There are currently six recognized species in this genus: * '' Dekeyseria amazonica'' Rapp Py-Daniel, 1985 * '' Dekeyseria brachyura'' ( Kner, ...

'' ** '' Dolichancistrus'' ** ''

Exastilithoxus ''Exastilithoxus'' is a small genus of suckermouth armored catfish native to South America. Species There are currently two recognized species in this genus: * '' Exastilithoxus fimbriatus'' ( Steindachner, 1915) * '' Exastilithoxus hoedemani'' ...

'' ** ''

'' ** '' Hopliancistrus'' ** ''

Hypancistrus ''Hypancistrus'' is a genus of loricariid catfish originating from the Amazon basin in South America. Unlike many of the other Loricariids, however, some ''Hypancistrus'' species are more carnivorous and enjoy meat in their diet. ''Hypancistrus' ...

'' ** ''

Leporacanthicus ''Leporacanthicus'' is a genus of suckermouth armored catfishes native to South America. Species There are currently four recognized species in this genus: * '' Leporacanthicus galaxias'' Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1989 * '' Leporacanthicus hete ...

'' ** ''

Lithoxus ''Lithoxus'' is a genus of suckermouth armored catfishes native to tropical South America. Taxonomy ''Lithoxus'' is supported as a monophyletic sister to '' Exastilithoxus''. Together, these two genera form a well-supported clade. Species ...

'' ** ''

Megalancistrus ''Megalancistrus'' is a genus of large suckermouth armored catfishes native to South America. Species There are currently two recognized species in this genus: * '' Megalancistrus barrae'' ( Steindachner, 1910) * '' Megalancistrus parananus'' ...

'' ** '' Micracanthicus'' ** ''

Neblinichthys ''Neblinichthys'' is a small genus of suckermouth armored catfishes native to South America. Species There are currently six recognized species in this genus: * '' Neblinichthys brevibracchium'' Taphorn, Armbruster, López-Fernández & C. R. ...

'' ** '' Panaqolus'' ** ''

Panaque 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 a ...

'' ** ''

Parancistrus ''Parancistrus'' is a small genus of suckermouth armored catfishes native to South America. Taxonomy Three species - ''Hypostomus aurantiacus'', ''H. nigricans'' and ''H. vicinus'' - were described by François Louis de la Porte, comte de Caste ...

'' ** ''

Paulasquama ''Paulasquama callis'' is a species of suckermouth armored catfish known only from northwestern Guyana where it was collected from the Waruma River which flows into the Mazaruni River The Mazaruni River is a tributary of the Essequibo River i ...

'' ** ''

Pseudacanthicus ''Pseudacanthicus'' is a genus of medium to large-sized suckermouth armored catfishes native to South America, where found in the Amazon and Orinoco basins, as well as rivers of the Guianas. They are primarily found in fast-flowing waters, som ...

'' ** ''

Pseudancistrus ''Pseudancistrus'' is a genus of suckermouth armored catfishes native to South America. Taxonomy ''Pseudancistrus'' is a genus in the tribe Ancistrini of the subfamily Hypostominae. It was described by Pieter Bleeker in 1862, and redescribed by ...

'' ** ''

Pseudolithoxus ''Pseudolithoxus'' is a genus of suckermouth armored catfishes with five described species from the basins of the Orinoco, Casiquiare and upper Rio Negro in Venezuela. Additionally, a possibly undescribed species is known from the Trombetas an ...

'' ** ''

Pseudoqolus ''Pseudoqolus koko'' is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae and the only species in the genus ''Pseudoqolus''. It is a freshwater fish native to South America, where it occurs in the Maroni basin. It is usually found on or near stony ...

'' ** ''

Scobinancistrus ''Scobinancistrus'' is a genus of armored catfishes native to the southeastern Amazon (Tocantins, Xingu, Tapajós basins) in Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest count ...

'' ** '' Soromonichthys'' ** '' Spectracanthicus'' ** '' Transancistrus'' ** '' Yaluwak'' *

Hypostomini ''Hypostomus'' is a genus of catfish in the family Loricariidae. They are native to tropical and subtropical South America. '' H. plecostomus'' is the popular freshwater aquarium fish formerly known as ''Plecostomus plecostomus''. The taxonomic ...

** ''

Aphanotorulus ''Aphanotorulus'' is a genus of armored catfishes native to the Amazon, Orinoco, Essequibo and Jaguaribe basins in South America.Ray, C.K. & Armbruster, J.W. (2016): The genera ''Isorineloricaria'' and ''Aphanotorulus'' (Siluriformes: Loricar ...

'' ** ''

Isorineloricaria ''Isorineloricaria'' is a genus of catfish in the family Loricariidae from northwestern South America. They live in rivers and streams, typically with slow to moderately running water, in the Orinoco, Maracaibo, Magdalena and Guayas basins (o ...

'' *

Pterygoplichthyini Pterygoplichthyini is a tribe of catfishes ( order Siluriformes) of the family Loricariidae. It includes two genera, ''Pterygoplichthys'' and the currently undescribed genus referred to as the ''Hemiancistrus annectens'' group, This group was ea ...

** ''

Pterygoplichthys ''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. Etymology ''Pte ...

'' *

Rhinelepini Rhinelepini is a tribe of fishes in the subfamily Hypostominae of the armored suckermouth catfish family Loricariidae. Taxonomy This tribe is a well diagnosed monophyletic group currently containing three genera: '' Pogonopoma'', '' Pseudorin ...

** ''

Pogonopoma ''Pogonopoma'' is a genus of armored catfish native to rivers in south and southeast Brazil. Taxonomy ''Pogonopoma'' is one of three genera currently valid in the tribe Rhinelepini. ''Pogonopomoides'', previously a valid genus, was placed in ...

'' ** ''

Pseudorinelepis ''Pseudorinelepis genibarbis'' is a species of armored catfish native to Brazil, Peru and Ecuador where it is found in the Amazon basin. Taxonomy ''Pseudorinelepis'' is one of three genera contained in the tribe Rhinelepini, one of the tribes ...

'' ** ''

Rhinelepis ''Rhinelepis'' is a genus of South American armored catfish. Species There are currently two recognized species in this genus: * '' Rhinelepis aspera'' Spix & Agassiz, 1829 * '' Rhinelepis strigosa'' Valenciennes, 1840 Appearance and anatomy ...

'' * ''

Incertae sedis ' () or ''problematica'' is a term used for a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Alternatively, such groups are frequently referred to as "enigmatic taxa". In the system of open nomenclature, uncertainty ...

'' ** ''

Ancistomus ''Ancistomus'' is a genus of suckermouth armored catfishes found in shallow waters in rapidly flowing rivers in the southeastern Amazon basin in Brazil. Species There are currently 5 recognized species in this genus: * '' Ancistomus feldberga ...

'' ** '' Cryptancistrus''Fisch-Muller, Sonia & Mol, Jan & Covain, Raphael. (2018). An integrative framework to reevaluate the Neotropical catfish genus Guyanancistrus (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) with particular emphasis on the Guyanancistrus brevispinis complex. PLOS ONE. 13. e0189789. 10.1371/journal.pone.0189789. ** '' Guyanancistrus'' ** '' Leptoancistrus'' (likely Ancistrini) ** ''

Peckoltia ''Peckoltia'' is a genus of small South American Loricariidae, armored suckermouth catfishes. Many of these fish are popular aquarium fish. Taxonomy ''Peckoltia'' is a Basal (phylogenetics), basal genus within the tribe Ancistrini of the subfami ...

'' (likely Ancistrini) ** ''

Peckoltichthys ''Peckoltichthys bachi'' is a species of armored catfish and the only member of its genus. This species is found throughout the upper Amazon River and its tributaries in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. The species reaches 14 cm (5.5 inch ...

References

Taxa named by Rudolf Kner Fish subfamilies {{Loricariidae-stub