Pleco L number?

[ewurm]

Why are Plecos given an "L" number for classification? It doesn't appear that other fish are classified in this manner.

 

[davo]

L numbers are given because they haven't been asigned a name by science... so we hobbiests have L numbers. There are hundreds of unnamed species, it's just a common name.

 

[davo]

aren't rays sometimes classified in a similar manner or am i making things up again?

 

[Aquaman]

maybe they are describing new species at such a fast pace that they haven't given them a proper common name.

 

[WyldFya]

L numbers are just an easier way to double check that everyone is talking about the same pleco. They aren't always accurate, and sometimes just wrong as changes have occured. The L stands for Loricariidae, which all plecos are a part of.

 

[kido]

its probably because their are too many species and subspecies to give them all different names.. numbering them would be a whole lot easier

 

[ewurm]

Why don't they number all the fish that way for easier ID?

 

[skinless]

This might help. How is your German?

 

[ewurm]

I was told to check out Planet Catfish...anyone who wants to know these things, check out that awesome site.

 

[Taz2478]

yeah PC is great, ive been able to identify my plecos. the only 1 the lfs's got right was the 128 blue phantom. but you do have quite a few that look simular.