Newbie question

[Kanta]

I love plecos and plan to get a couple when I get a bigger tank, I want a long fin albino but thats besides the point, When ever I see people talk about different kinds of plecos they talk about them with an "L" and a number such as L66 or what not, was wonder how plecos are categorized as this and where can I go to know which ones are being talked about when I see people post this way. Thanks

 

[andyjs]

Check out http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/numbers.php?mode=l&thumbs=16

 

[Warborg]

was wonder how plecos are categorized as this

There is no order, it was basically first come first serve. Plecos that showed up without a class became an L number.

 

[L021]

Essentially, some guy finds a pleco, checks his plecopaedia, and if it's not in the 750 or so already there, it become 751, the one after him becomes L752 etc etc.

Of course, plecos get classified, but for ease of information gathering, they keep their L#. For example, hypancistrus zebra is still also L49, and common plecos are still L021 and L023.

 

[Juzah]

Apparently the L numbering began when the newly identified species were published in a german magazine. (There is also a 2nd numbering system which a rival magazine started but ended up not becoming as extensive as the L's)

So yeah, as the above said - When one was found it became L001, the next to be found was L002.

 

[Warborg]

and common plecos are still L021 and L023.

Some may find it odd that a common (P. pardalis) would have a L number. The reason behind it was they were once classed under as P multiradiatus. When the classes were being redone they broke them away as they are slightly different types of pleco.

 

[Kanta]

Thanks for the information, it helped a bunch.