L-number

the catfish classification system
The L number system is a semi scientific classification system of catfish based on photographs of shipments of tropical catfish of the family Loricariidae published by the German aquarium magazine DATZ (Die Aquarien und Terrarienzeitschrift (The Aquarium and Terrarium Magazine)). The first L number was published in 1988. An L number is not a formal scientific designation, but it allows people to identify various loricariid catfish by a "common name" before the fish is officially described. When a loricariid receives an official scientific name, the L number (or numbers) is retired; best practice is then to use the scientific name. A specific L number classification does not guarantee a discrete species, multiple L numbers have been given to different populations of the same species. To add to the confusion, sometimes a single L number may be used for multiple species. Additionally the aquarium magazine 'Das Aquarium' introduced a similar system using the prefix 'LDA'.

The L numbers are listed below in numerical order. The preceding number holds precedence over the higher or "alternative" L numbers; but can sometimes be used to describe the same species or type from another locality. L number Alternative L or LDA numbers Scientific name Common name(s)L001 L022 Pterygoplichthys joselimaianus Gold spot pleco, Marbled sailfin plecoL002 L074 Peckoltia vermiculata Tiger peckoltiaL003 Baryancistrus sp. Kieser plecoL004 L005, L028, L073 Hypancistrus sp. Angelicus pleco, Zebra plecoL005 L004, L028, L073 Hypancistrus sp. Angelicus pleco, Zebra plecoL006 Peckoltia oligospila Brown Dot PeckoltiaL007 Leporacanthicus cf. galaxias Galaxy pleco, Tusken pleco, Vampire plecoL008 Peckoltia sp. Leopard PeckoltiaL009 Peckoltia sp. Smoky PeckoltiaL010 Loricaria birindellii Xingu LipbrooderL010a Rineloricaria sp. Red Lizard Catfish, Red Whiptail CatfishL011 L035, L108, L116 Aphanotorulus emarginatus Thresher pleco, Red fin thresher plecoL012 L013 Ancistomus feldbergae Gainsboro Pleco, Orange fin Xingu plecoL013 L012 Ancistomus feldbergae Gainsboro Pleco, Orange fin Xingu plecoL014 Scobinancistrus aureatus Goldie Pleco, Sunshine PlecoL015 Peckoltia vittata Candy stripe plecoL016 L030, L315 Spectracanthicus punctatissimus Bluespotted PlecoL017 Hopliancistrus sp. Wolverine PlecoL018 L081, L085, L177LDA60, LDA116, LDA117 Baryancistrus xanthellus Gold nugget plecoL019 Baryancistrus sp. L020 Spectracanthicus zuanoni L021 L023 Pterygoplichthys pardalis Common plecoL022 L001 Pterygoplichthys joselimaianus L023 L021 Pterygoplichthys pardalis Common plecoL024 LDA118 Pseudacanthicus pitanga Flame pleco, Red fin cactus plecoL025 Pseudacanthicus pirarara Scarlet plecoL026 Baryancistrus niveatus L027b LDA107 Panaque cf. armbrusteri 'teles pires' Olive royal pleco, Teles Pires royal plecoL027 Tapajos LDA77 Panaque armbrusteri Tapajos royal pleco, Golden line royal plecoL027 Tocantins Panaque cf. armbrusteri 'tocantins' Tocantins royal pleco, Platinum royal plecoL027 Xingu L027a, LDA63 Panaque cf. armbrusteri 'xingu' Xingu royal pleco, Longnosed royal pleco, Red Fin Royal PlecoL028 L004, L005, L073 Hypancistrus sp. Angelicus plecoL029 Leporacanthicus galaxias Galaxy pleco, Tusken pleco, Vampire plecoL030 L016, L315 Spectracanthicus punctatissimus Bluespotted PlecoL031 L176, L300, LDA04 Parancistrus nudiventris Peppermint plecoL032 Ancistrus aguaboensis L033 Lasiancistrus sp. L034 Ancistrus ranunculus Medusa plecoL035 L011, L108, L116 Aphanotorulus emarginatus Thresher pleco, Red fin thresher plecoL036 Ancistomus spilomma L037 L037a Hypostomus faveolus Honeycomb PlecoL038 Peckoltia sp. L039 Guyanancistrus niger Black Wing PlecoL040 Harttia surinamensis L041 Guyanancistrus brevispinis Shortspined Wing PlecoL042 Rineloricaria cf. platyura Pearlscale whiptailL043 Ancistrus sp. L044 Paralithoxus planquettei Green broad lip plecoL045 Ancistrus sp. L046 L098 Hypancistrus zebra Zebra plecoL047 Baryancistrus chrysolomus Magnum pleco, Mango plecoL048 Scobinancistrus cf. pariolispos L049 Peckoltia multispinis L050 Hypostomus cf. cochliodon Spotted Cochliodon, Spotted Humpbacked PlecoL051 L281 Hypostomus latifrons Paraguay PlecoL052 Dekeyseria sp. Butterfly pleco, Flounder plecoL053 Harttia sp. L054 Hypostomus sp. L055 Peckoltia sp. L056 Pseudancstrus sp. Rubber plecoL057 Baryancistrus sp. L059 Ancistrus hoplogenys Orange spotted bristlenoseL060 Hypostomus cf. nematopterus L061 Peckoltia sp. L063 Pseudacanthicus cf. serratus Brown finned Cactus PlecoL064 Pseudacanthicus sp. Broad tail Cactus PlecoL065 Pseudacanthicus sp. Blizzard Cactus Pleco, Mustang Cactus PlecoL066 Hypancistrus sp. King tiger pleco, Scribbled pleco, Network plecoL067 Pseudancistrus sp. L068 Ancistrini sp. Cotton Spotted PlecoL069 Ancistrini sp. Orange Black PlecoL070 Hypancistrus sp. Zombie plecoL071 L181, L249 Ancistrus sp. L072 Peckoltia sp. L073 L004, L005, L028 Hypancistrus sp. Angelicus plecoL074 L002 Peckoltia vermiculata Tiger peckoltiaL075 L124, L301, LDA02 Peckoltia sabaji Para PlecoL076 Peckoltia sp. Orange seam plecoL077 Hypostomus sp. Bruno pleco, Rusty pleco, Violet plecoL078 Hypostomus sp. L079 Pseudacanthicus sp. L080 Peckoltia sp. L081 L018, L085, L177LDA60, LDA116, LDA117 Baryancistrus xanthellus Gold nugget plecoL082 Ancistrini sp. Opal spot pleco, Polka dot cigar plecoL083 L165 Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps Sailfin plecoL084 Baryancistrus sp. L085 L018, L081, L177LDA60, LDA116, LDA117 Baryancistrus xanthellus Gold nugget plecoL086 LDA14 Oligancistrus sp. L087 Hypostomus sp. L088 Ancistrus sp. L089 Ancistrus sp. L090 Panaque bathyphilus Papa PanaqueL091 Leporacanthicus triactis Three beacon plecoL092 L194 Lasiancistrus tentaculatus Woodeating LasiancistrusL093 L153, L195 Isorineloricaria villarsi Blue fin thresher plecoL094 L123 Aphanotorulus ammophilus Cute pleco, Black spotted plecoL095 Pseudorinelepis genibarbis Orange Cheek Pinecone PlecoL096 L160 Pseudacanthicus spinosus Coffee & cream pleco, Spiny monster plecoL097 Pseudacanthicus sp. Polka dot cactus plecoL098 L046 Hypancistrus zebra Zebra plecoL099 Peckoltia sp. L100 LDA75 Ancistrus sp. L101 Hypostomus sp. L102 Hypancistrus inspector Snowball plecoL103 Peckoltia sp. L104 L162, LDA22 Panaque maccus Clown PlecoL105 Panaque sp. L106 Hemiancistrus guahiborum Spotted orange seam plecoL107 L184 Ancistrus sp. Brilliant bristlenose plecoL108 L011, L035, L116 Aphanotorulus emarginatus Thresher pleco, Red fin thresher plecoL109 Hypostomus cf. unicolor L110 L157 Ancistrus sp. Red spot bristlenoseL111 Ancistrus sp. L112 Hypostomus sp. L113 L234 Megalancistrus parananus L114 LDA07 Pseudacanthicus leopardus Leopard cactus plecoL115 L248 Baryancistrus sp. Mega Snowball plecoL116 L011, L035, L108 Aphanotorulus emarginatus Thresher pleco, Red fin thresher plecoL117 Hypostomus sp. L118 Hypostomus sp. L119 Hypostomus sp. L120 L182 Ancistrus sp. Starlight bristlenose plecoL121 L135, L305 Peckoltia braueri Worm line peckoltiaL122 Pseudancistrus sp. Spotted orange seam plecoL123 L094 Aphanotorulus ammophilus Cute pleco, Black spotted plecoL124 L075, L301, LDA02 Peckoltia sabaji Para PlecoL125 L150 Ancistrus sp. L126 Pseudancistrus orinoco L127 L207 Ancistrini sp. L128 Hemiancistrus sp. Blue phantom plecoL129 Hypancistrus debilittera Colombian zebra plecoL130 Hypostomus sp. L131 Hypostomus sp. L132 Hypostomus sp. L133 Scobinancistrus pariolispos Golden Cloud PlecoL134 Peckoltia compta Leopard frog plecoL135 L121, L305 Peckoltia braueri Worm line peckoltiaL136 L136a, L136b, LDA05, LDA06 Hypancistrus sp. L137 Hypostomus soniae Blue eyed red fin plecoL138 Hypostomus sp. L139 Hypostomus sp. L140 LDA61, LDA62 Peckoltia sp. L141 L215 Ancistomus snethlageae Ghost plecoL142 LDA33 Baryancistrus sp. Big White Spot PlecoL143 Lasiancistrus sp. L144 Ancistrus sp. Black eyed yellow bristlenoseL145 Hypostomus sp. L146 L232, LDA30 Peckoltichthys bachi Bola plecoL147 Peckoltia sp. L148 Ancistrus sp. L149 Ancistrus sp. L150 L125 Ancistrus sp. L151 L216 Dekeyseria scaphirhyncha Flat head plecoL152 Pseudorinelepis sp. Pineapple plecoL153 L093, L195 Isorineloricaria villarsi Blue fin thresher plecoL154 Pterygoplichthys sp. L155 Acanthicus hystrix Lyretail plecoL156 Ancistrus sp. L157 L110 Ancistrus sp. Red spot bristlenoseL158 Hypancistrus sp. L159 Ancistrus sp. L160 L096 Pseudacanthicus spinosus Coffee & cream pleco, Spiny monster plecoL161 Hypostomus faveolus L162 L104, LDA22 Panaque maccus Clown PlecoL163 Ancistomus cf. feldbergae Big spot "Peckoltia"L164 Pterygoplichthys sp. L165 L083 Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps Sailfin plecoL166 Hypostomus sp. L167 Hypostomus sp. L168 Dekeyseria brachyura Butterfly pleco, Flounder plecoL169 LDA01 Panaque sp. Gold Stripe PanaqueL170 Peckoltia sp. L171 LDA15 Hopliancistrus sp. L172 LDA33 Baryancistrus sp. Big whitespot plecoL173 Hypancistrus sp. Wavy zebra plecoL173b Hypancistrus sp. (3) Thinstriped zebra plecoL174 Hypancistrus sp. Spotted zebra plecoL175 Spectracanthicus sp. L176 L031, L300, LDA04 Parancistrus nudiventris Peppermint plecoL177 L018, L081, L085LDA60, LDA116, LDA117 Baryancistrus xanthellus Iriri gold nugget plecoL178 Lasiancistrus sp. Red fin LasiancistrusL179 Pseudacanthicus sp. L180 Ancistrus sp. L181 L071, L249 Ancistrus sp. L182 L120 Ancistrus sp. Starlight bristlenose plecoL183 Ancistrus dolichopterus Starlight bristlenose catfishL184 L107 Ancistrus sp. Brilliant bristlenose plecoL185 Pseudacanthicus sp. L186 Pseudacanthicus sp. L187 Chaetostoma dorsale Blackfinned Rubbernose PlecoL187 Chaetostoma pearsei Pears' Rubbernose PlecoL187 Chaetostoma sp. 'rio zuata(orinoco)' White spot rubbernose plecoL187b L444 Chaetostoma formosae Blonde rubbernose bulldog plecoL188 Chaetostoma nudirostre Light rubbernose plecoL189 Pseudolithoxus kelsorum Banded Pancake PlecoL190 Panaque nigrolineatus Royal plecoL191 Panaque sp. Dull Eyed Royal plecoL192 Hypostomus sp. L193 Acanthicus sp. Velour PlecoL194 L092 Lasiancistrus tentaculatus Woodeating LasiancistrusL195 L093, L153 Isorineloricaria villarsi Blue fin thresher plecoL196 Pterygoplichthys literatus L197 Spectracanthicus cf. immaculatus Non Spot PlecoL198 Ancistrini sp. Copper plecL199 Hypancistrus furunculus L200 Baryancistrus demantoides Hi Fin Green Phantom PlecoL200 Hemiancistrus subviridis Green phantom pleco, Lemon spotted green plecoL201 Hypancistrus contradens Columbian Snowball plecoL202 LDA57, LDA79 Peckoltia lineola Shortlined plecoL203 LDA65 Panaque schaeferi Titanic pleco, Volkswagen plecoL204 Panaque sp. Flash plecoL205 Peckoltia sp. L206 Panaque sp. L207 L127 Ancistrini sp. L208 Ancistrini sp. L209 Peckoltia sp. L210 Ancistrini sp. L211 L295 Peckoltia sp. L212 Hopliancistrus tricornis L213 Ancistrus sp. L214 Peckoltia sp. L215 L141 Ancistomus snethlageae Ghost plecoL216 L151 Dekeyseria scaphirhyncha Flat head plecoL217 Paralithoxus sp. Spotted baleen plecoL218 L247 Peckoltia sp. L219 Baryancistrus hadrostomus L220 Pseudancistrus sp. L221 L223 Pseudancistrus sp. L222 Hypostomus sp. L223 L221 Pseudancistrus sp. L224 Hypostomus sp. L226 LDA26 Panaqolus changae Iquitos tiger plecoL227 Hypostomus sp. L228 Lasiancistrus sp. L229 Hypostomus sp. L232 L146, LDA30 Peckoltichthys bachi Bola plecoL233 LDA09 Hypostomus fuscomaculatus L234 L113 Megalancistrus parananus L235 Pseudolithoxus anthrax Flyer catL236 Hypancistrus sp. L237 Ancistrus sp. L238 LDA40 Delturus sp. Brook plecoL239 Ancistrini sp. Blue PanaqueL240 Leporacanthicus cf. galaxias L241 Leporacanthicus cf. galaxias L242 Hypostomus sp. L243 Peckoltia sp. L244 Pseudolithoxus dumus L245 Hypostomus sp. L246 Hypostomus sp. L247 L218 Peckoltia sp. L249 L071, L181 Ancistrus sp. L250 Hypancistrus sp. L251 Pseudancistrus sp. L252 Ancistrini sp. L253 Scobinancistrus sp. Thousand Spots PlecoL254 Spectracanthicus sp. L255 Ancistrus sp. Spotted medusa plecoL256 Paralithoxus sp. Dotted snake plecoL257 Pseudolithoxus tigris L258 Parancistrus sp. L259 LDA32 Pseudancistrus sp. L260 Hypancistrus sp. Queen Arabesque plecoL261 Ancistrini sp. L262 Hypancistrus sp. L263 Leporacanthicus sp. L264 Leporacanthicus joselimai Sultan plecoL265 LDA84 Peckoltia sp. L266 Hypostomus sp. L267 Ancistrus sp. L268 Ancistrini sp. L269 Spectracanthicus immaculatus Non Spot Rodent PlecoL270 L307, LDA76 Hypancistrus sp. Chocolate zebra pleco, Tapajos zebra plecoL271 Panaque sp. L272 Panaque sp. L273 Pseudacanthicus sp. Titanicus plecoL274 Baryancistrus sp. L275 Pseudacanthicus sp. L278 Peckoltia sp. L279 LDA58 Ancistrus sp. L280 Ancistrini sp. L281 L051 Hypostomus latifrons Paraguay PlecoL282 Pseudacanthicus sp. King galaxy cactus plecoL283 Pseudacanthicus sp. L284 Hypostomus sp. L285 Hypostomus sp. L286 Hypostomus sp. L287 Hypancistrus sp. L288 Peckoltia sp. L289 Ancistrus sp. L290 L291 Aphanotorulus horridus L291 L290 Aphanotorulus horridus L292 Ancistrus sp. L293 Ancistrus sp. L294 Leporacanthicus cf. galaxias L295 L211 Peckoltia sp. L296 Panaque sp. L297 Hypancistrus sp. L298 Hypostomus sp. L299 Pseudancistrus sp. L300 L031, L176, LDA04 Parancistrus nudiventris Peppermint plecoL301 L075, L124, LDA02 Peckoltia sabaji Para PlecoL302 Lasiancistrus sp. L303 Hypostomus macushi L304 Ancistrus sp. L305 L121, L135 Peckoltia braueri Worm line peckoltiaL306 LDA64 Panaque sp. L307 L270, LDA76 Hypancistrus sp. Chocolate zebra pleco, Tapajos zebra plecoL308 Hypostomus sp. L309 Ancistrus sp. L310 LDA51 Hypostomus cochliodon L311 Hypostomus sp. L312 LDA71 Lasiancistrus cf. caucanus L313 Pterygoplichthys sp. L314 LDA56 Leporacanthicus sp. Sultan plecoL315 L016, L030 Spectracanthicus punctatissimus Bluespotted PlecoL316 Hypancistrus sp. Jari zebra plecoL318 Hypancistrus sp. L319 Baryancistrus sp. L320 Pseudacanthicus sp. L321 Pseudancistrus sp. L322 Lasiancistrus saetiger L323 Baryancistrus sp. L324 Baryancistrus sp. L325 Ancistrus sp. L326 Leporacanthicus sp. L327 Ancistrus sp. L328 Pseudolithoxus sp. L329 LDA27, LDA28 Panaque sp. Panaque Peru Orange LyretailL330 Panaque nigrolineatus laurafabianae Watermelon plecoL331 Hypostomus sp. L332 Parancistrus sp. L333 Hypancistrus sp. L337 Lasiancistrus sp. L338 LDA16 Ancistrus sp. L339 Hypancistrus lunaorum L340 Hypancistrus sp. Mega clown pleco L341 Panaque sp. L342 Hypostomus sp. L343 Pseudacanthicus sp. L344 Ancistrus sp. L345 Hypancistrus sp. L346 Hypostomus sp. L347 Pterygoplichthys sp. L349 LDA45 Ancistrus sp. L350 Peckoltia pankimpuju Coal pleco, Peruvian lyre tailL351 Panaque sp. L352 Ancistrus sp. L353 Spectracanthicus sp. Night Sky PlecoL354 Spectracanthicus cf. zuanoni Brick PlecoL355 Ancistrus sp. L356 Hypostomus sp. L357 Ancistrus sp. L358 Peckoltia sp. L359 Ancistrus sp. L360 Hypostomus sp. L361 Hopliancistrus sp. L362 Scobinancistrus sp. Spotted Sawdust PlecoL363 Spectracanthicus sp. L364 Baryancistrus sp. L365 Lasiancistrus sp. L366 Hypostomus sp. L367 Hypostomus sp. L368 Scobinancistrus sp. Moon plecoL369 Ancistrus sp. L370 Ancistrus sp. L373 Spectracanthicus sp. L374 Panaque sp. L375 Pseudacanthicus cf. spinosus L376 Ancistrini sp. L377 Peckoltia sp. L378 Ancistrus sp. L379 Hypostomus sp. L380 Pseudacanthicus sp. L381 Hypostomus sp. L382 Peckoltia sp. L383 Pseudancistrus sp. L384 Baryancistrus sp. L385 Pseudolithoxus sp. L386 Lasiancistrus sp. L387 Peckoltia sp. Tangerine Tiger PlecoL388 Hypostomus sp. L389 Hypostomus sp. L390 Hypostomus sp. L391 Spectracanthicus sp. Starry Sky PlecoL392 Ancistrus sp. L393 Ancistrus sp. L394 Hypostomus sp. L395 Panaque sp. L396 Ancistrus sp. L397 Panaqolus sp. Tangerine tiger plecoL398 Panaqolus tankei Tanke tiger plecoL399 Hypancistrus sp. Elegant Zebra PlecoL400 Hypancistrus sp. L401 Hypancistrus sp. L403 Panaque sp. L404 Hypancistrus sp. L405 Peckoltia sp. L406 Pseudacanthicus sp. L407 Acanthicus sp. Branco Giant PlecoL408 Chaetostoma sp. L409 Chaetostoma sp. L410 Hypancistrus sp. L411 Hypancistrus sp. L412 Chaetostoma sp. L413 Chaetostoma sp. L414 Chaetostoma sp. L415 Chaetostoma sp. L416 Chaetostoma sp. L417 Oligancistrus sp. L418 Panaque titan Shampupa Royal PlecoL419 Hypostomus sp. L420 Pseudacanthicus sp. L421 Ancistrus sp. L422 Hopliancistrus sp. L423 Ancistrus sp. L424 Hemiancistrus sp. L425 Panaque sp. L426 Panaque sp. L427 Pseudacanthicus sp. Jatupu Cactus PlecoL428 Hypancistrus sp. Curua Zebra PlecoL429 Hypancistrus sp. Jatupu Angel PlecoL430 Ancistomus sp. Postbox PlecoL431 Paralithoxus sp. Jatupu Toad PlecoL432 Paralithoxus sp. Curuá Toad PlecoL433 Paralithoxus sp. Maicuru Toad PlecoL434 Paralithoxus sp. Jauaru Toad PlecoL435 Paralithoxus cf. raso Araguari Toad PlecoL488 Panaque cf. nigrolineatus 'aripuana' Beige Royal PlecoL600 LDA73 Pseudacanthicus leopardus LDA74 Ancistrus macrophthalmus Blue Medusa Pleco LDA106 Panaque sp. Golden Royal Pleco, Xingu Golden Thunder Pleco, Xingu Longnose Royal Pleco