Are plecos actually Catfish or are they just a relative?
- Thread starter Jamesy
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Yes, they are catfishes (Siluriformes). They are then split into families (and then genus) like Calichthyidae (Corydoras etc), Mochokidae (Synodontis etc) and Loricariidae (Ancistrus, Peckoltia, Panaque etc) which are our 'plecos'.
What is the 'true species' you mention? Hypostomus plecostomus? There's something like over 700 described species of Loricariids (so far) and certainly hundreds more we know of and those yet to be discovered. I think they represent one of the most specially diverse families of vertebrate.
Yes, they are catfishes (Siluriformes). They are then split into families (and then genus) like Calichthyidae (Corydoras etc), Mochokidae (Synodontis etc) and Loricariidae (Ancistrus, Peckoltia, Panaque etc) which are our 'plecos'.
What is the 'true species' you mention? Hypostomus plecostomus? There's something like over 700 described species of Loricariids (so far) and certainly hundreds more we know of and those yet to be discovered. I think they represent one of the most specially diverse families of vertebrate.
Thanks man
I thought I read somewhere that there's only one 'true' species that are actually plecos? I'm guessing I'm wrong?
AFAIK the name "pleco" originated from Hypostomus plecostomus and evolved into a slang term covering all sucker-mouth catfish (ie Loricariidae). You could possibly consider there to be only one true "pleco", but as it isn't a scientific term there are no conventions governing its use it can be used as loosely as one likes.