254 



99. LORICARIA*. 



Loricaria, sp., L. Si/sf. Nat. i. p. 508. 



Loricaria, Lacq). v. p. 140 ; C'uv. Sf Val. xv. p. 45.3. 



Loricaria et Hemiodon, Kner, Denkschr. Acad. Wiss. IVien, 1853, vi. 



Loricar. p. 11. 

 Loricariiclithys, Loricaria, Pseudoloricaria, Paraheniiodon, Hemi- 



loricaria, Pseudoliemiodon, Riueloricaria, Oxyloricaria, Stiuisoma, 



Heniiodon, et Hemiodonticlithys, JSfceZj.iVef^e/-'/. Tydschr.Dierk.lSQ-i, 



p. 80. 



One short dorsal fin, opposite to the voutrals ; anal fin short; the 

 outer ray of each fin thickened, but flexible. Head depressed, with 

 the snout more or less produced and spatulate ; mouth situated at the 

 lower side of the snout, remote from its extrenaity, transverse, sur- 

 rounded by broad labial folds which are sometimes fiinged ; a short 

 barbel at each corner of the mouth. Teeth in the jaws smaU, bent, 

 with a dilated, notched apex, in a single series, sometimes rudimen- 

 tary or absent ; no teeth on the palate. Head and body cuirassed ; 

 tail depressed, long ; eye rather small or of moderate size. Prae- 

 operculum immoveable ; giU-opening very narrow. Formula of the 

 fins :— D. 1/7. A. 6. V. 1/5. 



Fresh waters of South America. 



The species may be subdivided thus : — 



a. Teeth in both Jaws very distinct: Loricaria, Kner. 



* Snout broad, of moderate length, without erectile bristles {Lori- 



caria, Pseudoloricaria, Ilemiloricaria, Blki'.), p. 255. 



** Snout long and naiTow, without bristles (Sturisofna, Swainsou), 

 p. 256. 



*** Snout long and narrow; sides of the head with erectile bristles 

 {O.vyloricaria, Blkr.), p. 257. 



3, Teeth rtidimentary, visible only in the loicer jatv, or entirely absent : 

 Hemiodon, Kaev. 



* Snout broad, of moderate leng-th (Loricariickthys, Parahemiodon, 



Pseudohemiodon, Blkr.), p. 257. 



** Snout rather produced and pointed in front, p. 258. 

 * * * Snout long and narrow {Hemiodon, Hemiodontichthys, Blkr.), p. 259. 



(•y. Sjjecies the dentition of which is not, or imperfectly known, p. 260.) 



* 1. Loricaria platyiira, Milll. Sf Trosch. m Schomb. Guiana, iii. p. C31. — 

 Rupuniini. 



2. Ilemiloricaria caracasensis, Bleck. Nedcrl. Tydschr. Dicrk. 1863, p. 81. — 



Caraccas. 



3. Loricaria uracautha, Kner, Sitzgshcr. Acad. Wiss. Munch. 1863, p. 228. — 



Rio Chagres. • 



4. scoiopacina, Filifpi. 



