Brochiloricaria Explained

Brochiloricaria is a small genus of armored catfishes native to South America.

Species

There are currently two recognized species in this genus:

• Brochiloricaria chauliodon Isbrücker, 1979
• Brochiloricaria macrodon (Kner, 1853)

Appearance and anatomy

Brochiloricaria is morphologically very similar to Loricaria and can be distinguished from the latter only by its teeth characteristics; in Brochiloricaria, the teeth are very long and of equal size on both jaws, while in Loricaria the premaxillary teeth are almost two times longer than dentary teeth.^[1] However, dentition may not be a reliable characteristic to differentiate to genera, so Brochiloricaria may actually be a synonym of Loricaria.^[1]

Both species of Brochiloricaria reach almost 30 centimetres (12 in) in length.

Ecology

Brochiloricaria is an abdomino-lip brooder.^[1]

References

1. The genera of the Neotropical armored catfish subfamily Loricariinae (Siluriformes: Loricariidae): a practical key and synopsis. Raphael. Covain. Fisch-Muller, Sonia. Zootaxa. 1462. 1–40. 2007. 10.11646/zootaxa.1462.1.1 .