learned something today... Plecos ( Loracarid ) are unique to south & central America???

[Magnum Man]

surprised there are no varieties in Africa or Asia???

I know Asia has loaches including some Hillstream, that have sucker mouths, does Africa or Australia have any sucker mouth catfish

 

[GaryE]

There are sucker types in Africa, but they aren't in the Loracarid family. The sucker mouth evolved independently many times. It works in fast water.

As far as I know, Australian, like Asia, has escaped and thriving Loracarid species, but they are because of incompetent or stupid aquarists.

 

[Magnum Man]

I found this kind of interesting...

Chiloglanis - Suckermouth Catfish of South Africa

Within the Mochokidae family, there are currently six species of Chiloglanis recorded in South Africa, where they are largely restricted to the Limpopo, Olifants, Crocodile and Phongolo River systems. The genus is separated from Synodontis by the absence of elongated branched mandibular barbels...

www.aquaecoafrica.com

These are basically "African Plecos" that aren't Loracardid
not seen any for sale anywhere, but cool, none the less...

found a listing for one on Wet Spot, of course out of stock... ( still kind of thinking about an African tank, in the back of my mind )

Chiloglanis cf. disneyi The Wet Spot Tropical Fish |

Chiloglanis cf. disneyi The Wet Spot Tropical Fish |

www.wetspottropicalfish.com

 

[Wills]

You get things like Siamese Algae Eaters and Chinese Algae Eaters - quite a few in that group that sort of look similar. Some of the smaller gobies are worth a mention like Stiphodons and Sicyopus as they behave in a similar way.

Wills

 

[Magnum Man]

I don't personally have Siamese or Chinese algae eaters... but I have Ottos also, but I think those are also from south America???

I have a couple Flying Foxes, assume they are Asian, & they have sucker mouths ( not sure what classification they fall into???

 

[GaryE]

I seemed to have a knack for catching Phractura sp in Gabon. I didn't bring any back, but they kept showing up in my net. Nice little current loving fish.

The niche exists everywhere water flows, and a lot of families of fish have independently evolved sucker mouths. South America has a wonderfully diverse bunch, but where there are rocks with food on them, and flowing water, there's a body form that works.