254 SILTTRIDiE. 



99. LORICARIA* 



Loricaria, sp., L. Syst. Nat. i. p. 508. 



Loricaria, Lacep. v. p. 140; Cuv. Sf Vol. xv. p. 453. 



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



Loricar. p. 11. 

 Loricariichthys, Loricaria, Pseudoloricaria, Parahemiodon, Hemi- 



loricaria, Pseudohemiodon, Rineloricaria, Oxyloricaria, Sturisoma, 



Hemiodon, et Hemiodontichthys,i?/eeA;.i\WeW. Tydschr. Dier k.1863, 



p. 80. 



One short dorsal fin, opposite to the ventrals ; 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 extremity, transverse, sur- 

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

 barbel at each corner of the mouth. Teeth in the jaws small, 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. Prse- 

 operculum immoveable ; gill-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 jaios very distinct : Loricaria, Kner. 



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



caria, Pseudoloricaria, Hemiloricaria, Blkr.), p. 255. 



*• Snout long and narrow, without bristles (Sturisoma, Swainson), 

 p. 250. 



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

 (Oxyloricaria, Blkr.), p. 257. 



|3. Teeth rudimentary, visible only in the lotcer jaio, or entirely absent : 

 Hemiodon, Kner. 



* Snout broad, of moderate length (Loricariichthys, Parahemiodon, 



Pseudohemiodon, Blkr.), p. 257. 



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

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



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



* 1. Loricaria platyura, Mull. Sf Trosch. in Schomb. Guiana, iii. p. 631. — 

 Rupununi. 



2. Hemiloricaria caracasensi9, Sleek. Nederl. Tydschr. Dierk. 1863, p. 81. — 



Caraccas. 



3. Loricaria uracantha, Kner, Sitzgsber. Acad. Wiss. Munch. 1863, p. 228. — 



Rio Chagres. 



4. scolopacina, Filippi. 



