Hypostomus plecostomus

Hypostomus plecostomus
An individual from the Commewijne River Basin, published along with the 2012 revision of the Hypostomus plecostomus type series[1]
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[2]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Siluriformes
Family:	Loricariidae
Subfamily:	Hypostominae
Tribe:	Hypostomini
Genus:	Hypostomus
Species:	H. plecostomus
Binomial name
Hypostomus plecostomus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms[3]
Acipenser plecostomus Linnaeus, 1758 Hypostomus guacari Lacepède, 1803 Loricaria flava Shaw, 1804 Plecostomus bicirrosus Gronow, 1854 Plecostomus brasiliensis Bleeker, 1864 Plecostomus plecostomus Linnaeus, 1758 Pterygoplichthys plecostomus Linnaeus, 1758

Hypostomus plecostomus, also known as the suckermouth catfish or common pleco, is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the armored catfish family (Loricariidae), named for the longitudinal rows of armor-like scutes that cover the upper parts of the head and body (the lower surface of head and abdomen is naked soft skin). Although the name Hypostomus plecostomus is often used to refer to common plecostomus sold in aquarium shops, most are actually members of other genera.^[4][1]

Suckermouth catfish are of little or no value as a food fish, although they are at least occasionally consumed over their native range.^[2] A demand exists for them, however, as a bottom cleaner in the aquarium trade.^[5]