L-number


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. 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 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'.

L-number catfish articles

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-numberAlternative L- or LDA-numbersScientific nameCommon name
L001L022Pterygoplichthys joselimaianusGold spot pleco, Marbled sailfin pleco
L002L074Panaqolus vermiculataTiger peckoltia
L003Baryancistrus sp.Kieser pleco
L004L005, L028, L073Hypancistrus sp.Angelicus pleco, Zebra pleco
L005L004, L028, L073Hypancistrus sp.Angelicus pleco, Zebra pleco
L006Hemiancistrus oligospilusBrown Dot Peckoltia
L007Leporacanthicus cf. galaxiasGalaxy pleco, Tusken pleco, Vampire pleco
L008Peckoltia sp.Leopard Peckoltia
L009Peckoltia sp.Smoky Peckoltia
L010Loricaria lata
L010aRineloricaria sp.Red Lizard Catfish, Red Whiptail Catfish
L011L035, L108, L116Hypostomus cf. emarginataThresher pleco, Red fin thresher pleco
L012Peckoltia sp.
L013Peckoltia sp.
L014Scobinancistrus aureatusGoldie Pleco, Sunshine Pleco
L015Peckoltia vittataCandy stripe pleco
L016Ancistrini sp.-
L017Hopliancistrus sp.
L018L085Baryancistrus sp.Gold nugget pleco
L019Oligancistrus sp.
L020Spectracanthicus sp.
L021L023Pterygoplichthys pardalisCommon pleco
L022L001Pterygoplichthys joselimaianus
L023L021Pterygoplichthys pardalisCommon pleco
L024Pseudacanthicus sp.Flame pleco, Red fin cactus pleco
L025Pseudacanthicus sp.Scarlet pleco
L026Baryancistrus niveatus
L027aL330Panaque sp. cf.nigrolineatusWatermelon pleco
L027bPanaque sp. cf. nigrolineatusOlive royal pleco, Teles Pires royal pleco
L027 TapajosL027Panaque armbrusteriTapajos royal pleco, Golden line royal pleco
L027 TocantinsL027, L027c'Panaque sp. cf. nigrolineatusTocantins royal pleco, Platinum royal pleco
L027 XinguL027, L027cPanaque sp. cf. nigrolineatusXingu royal pleco, Longnosed royal pleco
L028L004, L005, L073Hypancistrus sp.Angelicus pleco
L029Leporacanthicus galaxiasGalaxy pleco, Tusken pleco, Vampire pleco
L030Oligancistrus sp.
L031L176, L300, LDA04Parancistrus nudiventrisPeppermint pleco
L032Ancistrus sp.
L033Lasiancistrus sp.
L034Ancistrus ranunculusMedusa pleco
L035L011, L108, L116Hypostomus cf. emarginataThresher pleco, Red fin thresher pleco
L036Hemiancistrus spilomma
L037aHypostomus faveolus
L037Hypostomus sp.
L038Peckoltia sp.
L039Pseudancistrus niger
L040Harttia surinamensis
L041Pseudancistrus brevispinis
L042Rineloricaria cf. platyuraPearlscale whiptail
L043Ancistrus sp.
L044Lithoxus planquettei
L045Ancistrus sp.
L046L098, L173Hypancistrus zebraZebra pleco
L047Baryancistrus chrysolomusMagnum pleco, Mango pleco
L048Scobinancistrus cf. pariolispos
L049Peckoltia sp.
L050Hypostomus cf. cochliodonSpotted Cochliodon, Spotted Humpbacked Pleco
L051L281Hypostomus latifrons
L052Dekeyseria' sp.Butterfly pleco, Flounder pleco
L053Harttia sp.
L054Hypostomus sp.
L055Peckoltia sp.
L056Pseudancstrus sp.Rubber pleco
L057Baryancistrus sp.
L059Ancistrus sp.
L060Hypostomus cf. nematopterus
L061Peckoltia sp.
L063Pseudacanthicus sp. cf. serratus
L064Pseudacanthicus sp.
L065Pseudacanthicus sp.Blizzard Cactus Pleco, Mustang Cactus Pleco
L066Hypancistrus sp.King tiger pleco, Scribbled pleco, Network pleco
L067Pseudancistrus sp.
L068Ancistrini sp.
L069Ancistrini sp.
L070Hypancistrus sp.Zombie pleco
L071L181, L249Ancistrus sp.
L072Peckoltia sp.
L073L004, L005, L028Hypancistrus sp.Angelicus pleco
L074L002'Panaque sp.Tiger peckoltia
L075L124, L301, LDA02Hemiancistrus sabajiPara Pleco
L076Peckoltia sp.Orange seam pleco
L077Hypostomus sp.Bruno pleco, Rusty pleco, Violet pleco
L078Hypostomus sp.
L079Pseudacanthicus sp.
L080Peckoltia sp.
L081Baryancistrus sp.Gold nugget pleco
L082Ancistrini sp.Opal spot pleco, Polka-dot cigar pleco
L083L165Pterygoplichthys gibbicepsSailfin pleco
L084Baryancistrus sp.
L085L018Baryancistrus sp.Gold nugget pleco
L086LDA14Oligancistrus sp.
L087Hypostomus sp.
L088Ancistrus sp.
L089Ancistrus sp.
L090Panaque bathyphilusPapa Panaque
L091Leporacanthicus triactisThree beacon pleco
L092L194Lasiancistrus tentaculatusWoodeating Lasiancistrus
L093L153, L195Hypostomus villarsiBlue fin thresher pleco
L094L123Hypostomus ammophilus
L095Pseudorinelepis ginebarbis
L096L160Pseudacanthicus spinosusCoffee & cream pleco, Spiny monster pleco
L097Pseudacanthicus sp.Polka dot cactus pleco
L098L046, L173Hypancistrus zebraZebra pleco
L099Peckoltia sp.
L100LDA75Ancistrus sp.
L101Hypostomus sp.
L102Hypancistrus inspectorSnowball pleco
L103Peckoltia sp.
L104L162, LDA22Panaque maccusClown Pleco
L105Panaque sp.
L106Hemiancistrus guahiborumSpotted orange seam pleco
L107L184Ancistrus sp.Brilliant bristlenose pleco
L108L011, L035, L116Hypostomus cf. emarginataThresher pleco, Red fin thresher pleco
L109Hypostomus cf. unicolor
L110L157Ancistrus sp.Red spot bristlenose
L111Ancistrus sp.
L112Hypostomus sp.
L113L234Megalancistrus parananus
L114LDA07Pseudacanthicus leopardusLeopard cactus pleco
L115L248Baryancistrus sp.Mega Snowball pleco
L116L011, L035, L108Hypostomus cf. emarginataThresher pleco, Red fin thresher pleco
L117Hypostomus sp.
L118Hypostomus sp.
L119Hypostomus sp.
L120Ancistrus sp.Black fin bristlenose
L121L135, L305Peckoltia braueriWorm line peckoltia
L122Pseudancistrus sp.Spotted orange seam pleco
L123L094Hypostomus ammophilus
L124L075, L301, LDA02Hemiancistrus sabajiPara Pleco
L125L150Ancistrus sp.
L126Pseudancistrus orinoco
L127L207Ancistrini sp.
L128Hemiancistrus sp.Blue phantom pleco
L129Hypancistrus debilitteraColombian zebra pleco
L130Hypostomus sp.
L131Hypostomus sp.
L132Hypostomus sp.
L133Scobinancistrus sp.
L134Peckoltia sp.Leopard frog pleco
L135L121, L305Peckoltia braueriWorm line peckoltia
L136L136a, L136b, LDA05, LDA06Hypancistrus sp.
L137Hypostomus soniaeBlue eyed red fin pleco
L138Hypostomus sp.
L139Hypostomus sp.
L140LDA61, LDA62Peckoltia sp.
L141L215Peckoltia snethlageae
L142LDA33Baryancistrus sp.Big White Spot Pleco
L143Lasiancistrus sp.
L144Ancistrus sp.Black eyed yellow bristlenose
L145Hypostomus sp.
L146L232, LDA30Peckoltia ucayalensisBola pleco
L147Peckoltia sp.
L148Ancistrus sp.
L149Ancistrus sp.
L150L125Ancistrus sp.
L151L216Dekeyseria scaphirhynchaFlat head pleco
L152Pseudorinelepis sp.Pineapple pleco
L153L093, L195Hypostomus villarsiBlue fin thresher pleco
L154Pterygoplichthys sp.
L155Acanthicus hystrixLyretail pleco
L156Ancistrus sp.
L157L110Ancistrus sp.Red spot bristlenose
L158Hypancistrus sp.
L159Ancistrus sp.
L160L096Pseudacanthicus spinosusCoffee & cream pleco, Spiny monster pleco
L161Hypostomus faveolus
L162L104, LDA22Panaque maccusClown Pleco
L163Peckoltia sp.Big spot peckoltia
L164Pterygoplichthys sp.
L165L083Pterygoplichthys gibbicepsSailfin pleco
L166Hypostomus sp.
L167Hypostomus sp.
L168Dekeyseria brachyuraButterfly pleco, Flounder pleco
L169LDA01Panaque sp.Gold Stripe Panaque
L170Peckoltia sp.
L171LDA15Hopliancistrus sp.
L172LDA33Baryancistrus sp.Big whitespot pleco
L173L046, L098Hypancistrus zebraZebra pleco
L174Hypancistrus sp.
L175Oligancistrus sp.
L176Parancistrus nudiventrisPeppermint pleco-
L177Baryancistrus sp.Iriri gold nugget pleco
L178Lasiancistrus sp.Red fin Lasiancistrus
L179Pseudacanthicus sp.
L180Ancistrus sp.
L181L071, L249Ancistrus sp.
L182Ancistrus hoplogenysStarlight bristlenose pleco
L183Ancistrus dolichopterusStarlight bristlenose catfish
L184L107Ancistrus sp.Brillian bristlenose pleco
L185Pseudacanthicus sp.
L186Pseudacanthicus sp.
L187, L187a, L187b,Chaetostoma sp.Blonde rubbernose bulldog pleco
L190Panaque nigrolineatusRoyal pleco
L191Panaque sp.Dull Eyed Royal pleco
L192Hypostomus sp.
L193Acanthicus sp.
L194L092Lasiancistrus tentaculatusWoodeating Lasiancistrus
L195L093, L153Hypostomus villarsiBlue fin thresher pleco
L196Pterygoplichthys literatus
L197Ancistrini sp.
L198Ancistrini sp.
L199Hypancistrus furunculus
L200Baryancistrus demantoides
L200Hemiancistrus subviridisGreen pleco, Lemon spotted green pleco
L201Hypancistrus contradensColumbian Snowball pleco
L202Peckoltia sp.
L203LDA65Panaque schaeferiTitanic pleco, Volkswagen pleco
L204Panaque sp.Flash pleco
L205Peckoltia sp.
L206Panaque sp.
L207L127Ancistrini sp.
L208Ancistrini sp.
L209Peckoltia sp.
L210Ancistrini sp.
L211L295Peckoltia sp.
L212Hopliancistrus tricornis
L213Ancistrus sp.
L214Peckoltia sp.
L215L141Peckoltia snethlageae
L216L151Dekeyseria scaphirhynchaFlat head pleco
L218L247Peckoltia sp.
L219Baryancistrus hadrostomus
L220Pseudancistrus sp.
L221L223Pseudancistrus sp.
L222Hypostomus sp.
L223L221Pseudancistrus sp.
L224Hypostomus sp.
L226LDA26Panaque changaeIquitos tiger pleco
L227Hypostomus sp.
L228Lasiancistrus sp.
L229Hypostomus sp.
L232L146, LDA30Peckoltia ucayalensisBola pleco
L233LDA09Hypostomus sp.
L234L113Megalancistrus parananus
L235Pseudolithoxus anthraxFlyer cat
L236Hypancistrus sp.
L237Ancistrus sp.
L238LDA40Delturus sp.Brook pleco
L239Ancistrini sp.Blue Panaque
L240Leporacanthicus cf. galaxias
L241Leporacanthicus cf. galaxias
L242Hypostomus sp.
L243Peckoltia sp.
L244Pseudolithoxus dumus
L245Hypostomus sp.
L246Hypostomus sp.
L247L218Peckoltia sp.
L249L071, L181Ancistrus sp.
L250Hypancistrus sp.
L251Pseudancistrus sp.
L252Ancistrini sp.
L253Scobinancistrus sp.
L254Spectracanthicus sp.
L255Ancistrus sp.Spotted medusa pleco
L256Lithoxus sp.
L257Pseudolithoxus tigris
L258Parancistrus sp.
L259LDA32Pseudancistrus sp.
L260Hypancistrus sp.Queen Arabesque pleco
L261Ancistrini sp.
L262Hypancistrus sp.
L263Leporacanthicus sp.
L264Leporacanthicus joselimaiSultan pleco
L265Peckoltia sp.
L266Hypostomus sp.
L267Ancistrus sp.
L268Ancistrini sp.
L269Ancistrini sp.
L270L307, LDA76Hypancistrus sp.Chocolate zebra pleco, Tapajos zebra pleco
L271Panaque sp.
L272Panaque sp.
L273Pseudacanthicus sp.Titanicus pleco
L274Baryancistrus sp.
L275Pseudacanthicus sp.
L278Peckoltia sp.
L279LDA58Ancistrus sp.
L280Ancistrini sp.
L281L051Hypostomus latifrons
L282Pseudacanthicus sp.King galaxy cactus pleco
L283Pseudacanthicus sp.
L284Hypostomus sp.
L285Hypostomus sp.
L286Hypostomus sp.
L287Hypancistrus sp.
L288Peckoltia sp.
L289Ancistrus sp.
L290L291Hypostomus cf. horrida
L291L290Hypostomus cf. horrida
L292Ancistrus sp.
L293Ancistrus sp.
L294Leporacanthicus cf. galaxias
L295L211Peckoltia sp.
L296Panaque sp.
L297Hypancistrus sp.
L298Hypostomus sp.
L299Pseudancistrus sp.
L300Parancistrus nudiventrisPeppermint pleco-
L301L075, L124, LDA02Hemiancistrus sabajiPara Pleco
L302Lasiancistrus sp.
L303Hypostomus macushi
L304Ancistrus sp.
L305L121, L135Peckoltia braueriWorm line peckoltia
L306LDA64Panaque sp.
L307L270, LDA76Hypancistrus sp.Chocolate zebra pleco, Tapajos zebra pleco
L308Hypostomus sp.
L309Ancistrus sp.
L310LDA51Hypostomus cochliodon
L311Hypostomus sp.
L312LDA71Lasiancistrus cf. caucanus
L313Pterygoplichthys sp.
L314LDA56Leporacanthicus sp.Sultan pleco
L315Spectracanthicus sp.
L316Hypancistrus sp.Jari zebra pleco
L318Hypancistrus sp.
L319Baryancistrus sp.
L320Pseudacanthicus sp.
L321Pseudancistrus sp.
L322Lasiancistrus saetiger
L323Baryancistrus sp.
L324Baryancistrus sp.
L325Ancistrus sp.
L326Leporacanthicus sp.
L327Ancistrus sp.
L328Pseudolithoxus sp.
L329LDA27, LDA28Panaque sp.Panaque Peru Orange Lyretail
L330L027aPanaque sp. cf. nigrolineatusWatermelon pleco
L331Hypostomus sp.
L332Parancistrus sp.
L333Hypancistrus sp.
L337Lasiancistrus sp.
L338LDA16Ancistrus sp.
L339Hypancistrus lunaorum
L340Hypancistrus sp.Mega clown pleco
L341Panaque sp.
L342Hypostomus sp.
L343Pseudacanthicus sp.
L344Ancistrus sp.
L345Hypancistrus sp.
L346Hypostomus sp.
L347Pterygoplichthys sp.
L349LDA45Ancistrus sp.
L350Ancistrini sp.Coal pleco, Peruvian lyre-tail
L351Panaque sp.
L352Ancistrus sp.
L353Oligancistrus sp.
L354Oligancistrus sp.
L355Ancistrus sp.
L356Hypostomus sp.
L357Ancistrus sp.
L358Peckoltia sp.
L359Ancistrus sp.
L360Hypostomus sp.
L361Hopliancistrus sp.
L362Scobinancistrus' sp.
L363Oligancistrus sp.
L364Baryancistrus sp.
L365Lasiancistrus sp.
L366Hypostomus sp.
L367Hypostomus sp.
L368Scobinancistrus sp.
L369Ancistrus sp.
L370Ancistrus sp.
L373Oligancistrus sp.
L374Panaque sp.
L375Pseudacanthicus cf. spinosus
L376Hypostominae sp.
L377Peckoltia sp.
L378Ancistrus sp.
L379Hypostomus sp.
L380Pseudacanthicus sp.
L381Hypostomus sp.
L382Peckoltia sp.
L383Pseudancistrus sp.
L384Baryancistrus sp.
L385Pseudolithoxus sp.
L386Lasiancistrus sp.
L387Ancistomos sp.
L388Hypostomus sp.
L389Hypostomus sp.
L390Hypostomus sp.
L391Oligancistrus sp.
L392Ancistrus sp.
L393Ancistrus sp.
L394Hypostomus sp.
L395Panaque sp.
L396Ancistrus sp.
L397Panaque sp.
L398Panaque sp.
L399Hypancistrus sp.
L400Hypancistrus sp.
L401Hypancistrus sp.
L403Panaque sp.
L404Hypancistrus sp.
L405Peckoltia sp.
L406Pseudacanthicus sp.
L407Acanthicus sp.
L408Chaetostoma sp.
L409Chaetostoma sp.
L410Hypancistrus sp.
L411Hypancistrus sp.
L412Chaetostoma sp.
L413Chaetostoma sp.
L414Chaetostoma sp.
L415Chaetostoma sp.
L416Chaetostoma sp.
L417Oligancistrus sp.
L418Panaque sp.
L419Hypostomus sp.
L420Pseudacanthicus sp.
L421Ancistrus sp.
L422Hopliancistrus sp.
L423Ancistrus sp.
L424Hemiancistrus sp.
L425Panaque sp.
L426Panaque sp.
L427Lithoxus sp.
L600LDA73Pseudacanthicus leopardus''