Loricaria was the first genus of the family Loricariidae described.[1] Thus, it is the nominal genus of the family Loricariidae.[2]Phylogenetic relationships within Loricaria and among other members of Loricariini remain uncertain. Its external morphology shows few shared derived characters, making comparison with other genera difficult. Loricaria has been hypothesized to occupy a basal position among members of the subtribe Loricariina, with the other genera possessing
derived characters. Based on the characteristics of its mouth, Loricaria appears to maintain a close relationship with representatives of the Pseudohemiodon group.[2]Proloricaria is considered a synonymofLoricaria.[2]
This genus is distributed east of the Andes in nearly the entire tropical and subtropical parts of South America. Species occur in a variety of habitats from the main flow of rivers on sandy and rocky bottoms to flooded areas and lakes over muddy and sandy bottoms.[2]
Loricaria species are recognized by the presence of elongate, slender filaments on the lips and a low number of bicuspidpremaxillaryteeth (usually three to four per side) that are about twice the length of the dentary teeth.[1]
The site of egg deposition varies between different members of the genus. In some species, eggs are carried on the enlarged lower lip of the male. L. piracicabae has its egg adherent to its ventral surface.[9] Males are abdomino-lip brooders.[2]
^ abThomas, M.R., Rodriguez, M.S., Cavallaro, M.R., Froehlich, O. & Corrêa E Castro, R.M. (2013): Loricaria luciae, a new species of whiptail catfish (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the Paraguay and lower Paraná River basins of southeastern South America. Zootaxa, 3745 (3): 365–378.
^Thomas, Matthew R.; Sabaj Pérez, Mark H. (2010). "A New Species of Whiptail Catfish, Genus Loricaria (Siluriformes: Loricariidae), from the Rio Curuá (Xingu Basin), Brazil". Copeia. 2010 (2): 274–283. doi:10.1643/CI-09-097. S2CID56447750.
^Rodriguez, M.S., Cavallaro, M.R. & Thomas, M.R. (2012): A New Diminutive Species of Loricaria (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the Rio Paraguay System, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Copeia 2012, (1): 49–56.
^Londoño‐Burbano, A., Urbano‐Bonilla, A., & Thomas, M. R. (2020). Loricaria cuffyi (Siluriformes: Loricariidae), a new species of loricariin catfish from the Guiana Shield. Journal of Fish Biology. doi:10.1111/jfb.14566
^Eric, G.; Moodie, E.; Power, Mary (1982). "The reproductive biology of an armoured catfish, Loricaria uracantha, from Central America". Env. Biol. Fish. 7 (2): 143–148. doi:10.1007/BF00001784. S2CID44768314.
