470 PARENTAL CARE AMONG FRESH-WATER FISHES. 



THE LORICARIIDS. 



The sturgeon-like catfishes, or Loricariids, are isolated on account 

 of the form and the complete investment with longitudinal rows 

 of angular dense plates. The mouth is inferior, below a projecting 



Fi(i. 45. — Luricarid spixil. After Steindacbuer. 



snout, and has large everted lips; the barbels are inconspicuous; the 

 dorsal is anterior ; the pectorals are inserted low down and on a level 

 Avith the inferior surface of the breast, and the dorsal and pectoral 

 fins have marginal spines; the ventrals are more anterior in position 

 than in other Nematognaths. An adipose fin is generalW represented 

 by a thin membranous ridge with a spinelet in front, but in many 

 genera is wanting, and, indeed, it has been found in one species to be 

 of so little significance as to be present in some individuals and absent 

 in others. Such are the most noteworthy external characteristics, 

 but those of most fundamental importance are deeper seated and to 

 be found in the skull and the vertebral column. It would, however, 

 entail too nuich technical knowledge to appreciate them. Anyone 

 who wishes to ascertain what they are may do so by consulting "A 

 monograph of the fishes of the family Loricariid^e," by C. Tate 

 Regan, published in 1004 in the Transactions of the Zoological 

 Society of London. The illustrations, as well as the text, are un- 

 usually good. 



The Loricariicls are peculiar to tropical America, and about two 

 hundred species have l^een already obtained and described. They are 

 more interesting to the naturalist than the general student and have 

 little or no economical value. Very little is known of their habits. 

 They are bottom fishes, living chiefly, but not only, in streams with a 

 muddy or sandy l>ed and at moderate depths. 



Marked sexual differences are frequent in the species of Loricariids. 

 Eegan (1004), indeed, has aptly indicated that ''the differences be- 

 tween the sexes in certain genera are very remarkable." The dif- 

 ferentiation is generally in the direction of increased spinescence or 

 the development of stronger spines and l)ristles in the males than in 

 the females. It is also noteworthy that an increase of size appears 

 to be ge nerally correlated with the assumption of the secondary male 



