Family Loricariidae Rafinesque 1815 (Fig. 3D). Suckermouth Armored Catfishes; Peces Diablo, Plecos, Peces Gato Acorazados

Description: Body generally elongate, robust, caudally depressed, covered by bony plates; usually less than 70 cm in length; mouth ventral, with papillose lips; pectoral, pelvic and dorsal fins usually with strong spines; adipose fin usually present, with a spine at the anterior border (Angulo et al. 2021, Nelson et al. 2016). Distribution: Freshwater; naturally from Costa Rica, Panama and South America, introduced elsewhere (Nelson et al. 2016). One genus and one species in Nicaraguan freshwaters.