{{Short description|Genus of fishes}} {{For|another use|Loricaria (plant)}} {{Automatic taxobox | image = Loricaria simillima.jpg | image_caption = ''Loricaria simillima'' | display_parents = 2 | taxon = Loricaria | authority = Linnaeus, 1758<ref name = "Cof family">{{Cof family|family=Loricariinae|access-date=17 January 2026}}</ref> | type_species = ''Loricaria cataphracta'' | type_species_authority = Linnaeus, 1758<ref name = "Cof genus"/> | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = | synonyms = ''Fusiloricaria'' <small>Fowler, 1940</small> | synonyms_ref = <ref name = "Cof family"/> }}
'''''Loricaria''''' is a genus of freshwater ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Loricariidae, the suckermouth armored catfishes, and the subfamily Loricariinae, the mailed catfishes. The catfishes in this genus are found in South America.
==Taxonomy== ''Loricaria'' was the first genus of the family Loricariidae described.<ref name="Thomas">{{cite journal|journal=Neotropical Ichthyology|volume=6|issue=3|pages=379–394|year=2008|title=Three new species of the armored catfish genus ''Loricaria'' (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from river channels of the Amazon basin|first=Matthew R.|last=Thomas|author2=Py-Daniel, Lúcia H. Rapp |doi=10.1590/S1679-62252008000300011|doi-access=free}}</ref> Thus, it is the nominal genus of the family Loricariidae.<ref name="Covain"/> 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.<ref name="Covain"/> ''Proloricaria'' has been considered a synonym of ''Loricaria''.<ref name="Covain"/>
==Species== Loricaria contains the following valid, recognised species;<ref name = "Cof genus">{{Cof genus|genus=Loricaria|access-date=17 January 2026}}</ref> {{Linked species list | Loricaria apeltogaster | Boulenger, 1895 | Loricaria birindellii | Thomas & Sabaj Pérez, 2010 | Loricaria cataphracta | Linnaeus, 1758 | Loricaria clavipinna | Fowler, 1940 | Loricaria coximensis | Rodriguez, Cavallaro & Thomas, 2012 | Loricaria cuffyi | Londoño-Burbano, Urbano-Bonilla & Thomas, 2020 | Loricaria holmbergi | Rodriguez & Miquelarena, 2005 | Loricaria lata | C. H. Eigenmann & R. S. Eigenmann, 1889 | Loricaria luciae | Thomas, Rodriguez, Carvallaro, Froehlich & R. M. C. Castro, 2013 | Loricaria lundbergi | Thomas & Rapp Py-Daniel, 2008 | Loricaria nickeriensis | Isbrücker, 1979 | Loricaria nimairaco | Londoño-Burbano, Urbano-Bonilla, Thomas & Britto, 2023 | Loricaria parnahybae | Steindachner, 1907 | Loricaria piracicabae | Ihering, 1907 | Loricaria pumila | Thomas & Rapp Py-Daniel, 2008 | Loricaria simillima | Regan, 1904 | Loricaria spinulifera | Thomas & Rapp Py-Daniel, 2008 | Loricaria thomasi | Provenzano & Sabaj, 2024 | Loricaria tucumanensis | Isbrücker, 1979 | Loricaria turi | Saraiva, Abreu, Ottoni & Piorski, 2021 }}
==Distribution and habitat== 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.<ref name="Covain">{{cite journal|url=http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2007f/zt01462p040.pdf|title=The genera of the Neotropical armored catfish subfamily Loricariinae (Siluriformes: Loricariidae): a practical key and synopsis|first=Raphael|last=Covain|author2=Fisch-Muller, Sonia |journal=Zootaxa|volume=1462|pages=1–40|year=2007|doi=10.11646/zootaxa.1462.1.1 }}</ref>
==Description== ''Loricaria'' species are recognized by the presence of elongate, slender filaments on the lips and a low number of bicuspid premaxillary teeth (usually three to four per side) that are about twice the length of the dentary teeth.<ref name="Thomas"/>
Sexual dimorphism includes hypertrophied development of the pectoral fin spines, blunt odontodes on the pelvic and anal fin spines, and tooth crowns becoming shortened and rounded in mature males.<ref name="Covain"/>
For the four species characterized, karyotypic diversity ranges from 2n = 62 to 2n = 68.<ref name="Covain"/>
==Ecology== 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.<ref name="Eric">{{cite journal|journal=Env. Biol. Fish.|volume=7|issue=2|pages=143–148|year=1982|title=The reproductive biology of an armoured catfish, ''Loricaria uracantha'', from Central America|first=G.|last=Eric|author2=Moodie, E. |author3=Power, Mary |doi=10.1007/BF00001784|bibcode=1982EnvBF...7..143E|s2cid=44768314}}</ref> Males are abdomino-lip brooders.<ref name="Covain"/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
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Category:Loricariinae Category:Loricaria Category:Fish of South America Category:Catfish genera Category:Animal taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Category:Freshwater fish genera