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Suckermouth Armored Catfishes


Suckermouth armored catfishes or sailfin catfishes belong to the Loricariidae family. They are distributed in Costa Rica, Panama and South America. They are distinguished by the presence of flexible bony plates and a ventral suctorial mouth.

Suckermouth armored catfishes are freshwater fish with most of the species occur in swift-flowing streams. They feed on a variety of food, which include algae, invertebrates, and detritus. Their suctorial mouth allow them to feed, breathe, and attach to substrate through suction.

There are 106 genera and about 885 species worldwide.



Scientific Name: Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus  (Weber, 1991)
English Name: Vermiculated Sailfin Catfish
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Bandaraya, Ikan Cuci Cermin
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาซักเก (Plā sạk ke)
Main Identification Features: Vermiculated pattern on ventral surface. Ventral suctorial mouth. Caudal fin lunate and large dorsal fin.
Size: Maximum total length 70 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Freshwater fish native to the Madeira River basin in South America. Found in slow flowing rivers and wetlands with low oxygenated and turbid waters. A benthic forager, using its suctorial mouth to attach to surfaces and consuming detritus and algae.