Elongated, armored body covered with bony plates. Dark brown or black base color with lighter mottling or spots. Large sucker mouth on the underside for grazing algae. Long dorsal fin with a distinctive sail-like shape. Juveniles are smaller and more patterned, while adults are bulkier and darker.
Flattened, armored body with a sucker mouth for clinging to surfaces. Coloration is generally brown to dark gray with lighter spots, while males feature prominent bristles on their snouts. Adults reach 4–6 inches, with juveniles showing more vivid spots and patterns.
Flattened, elongated body with a dark brown to olive base color, often mottled with lighter markings. The distinguishing feature is its soft, fleshy lips used for clinging and grazing. Adults reach 6–8 inches in length with moderately long fins and a broad sucker mouth.
Small, compact body with a flattened underside and a sucker mouth. Striking black and tan or black and brown stripes across the body. Adults reach 3–4 inches. Males develop slightly broader heads and more pronounced odontodes (small bristles) on their fins during breeding.
Large, robust body with bony plates covering its length. Dark brown to black base with striking white or light-colored stripes along the body. Flattened sucker mouth for scraping algae and wood. Broad pectoral fins and a tall dorsal fin give it a regal appearance. Adults reach 17–20 inches in length.
Flattened, armored body with black base color and bright golden-yellow spots. Broad pectoral fins and a large sucker mouth adapted for scraping algae and biofilm. Adults reach 6–8 inches, with males often displaying more vivid coloration.
Flattened, armored body with an iridescent blue-black coloration. Broad pectoral fins and a large sucker mouth for grazing on algae. Adults reach 6–8 inches. Juveniles may display lighter spotting that darkens with age.
Flattened, armored body with olive-green to metallic green coloration. Broad pectoral fins and a large sucker mouth for grazing. Adults reach 6–8 inches, with males slightly more robust and showing more vivid coloration during breeding periods.
Compact, flattened body with black and white stripes running horizontally across the body and fins. Sucker mouth for grazing surfaces. Adults reach 3–4 inches, with males having slightly broader heads and odontodes on pectoral fins during breeding.
Flattened, armored body with a dark brown to black base color and cream to golden spots resembling a leopard’s pattern. Broad pectoral fins and a sucker mouth adapted for grazing. Adults reach 4–5 inches, with males slightly more robust.
Flattened, armored body with dark brown to black base color. Bright orange-red pectoral and caudal fins with fang-like teeth visible when feeding. Adults reach 5–7 inches. Males often show more intense coloration and odontodes on pectoral fins during breeding.
Large, flattened, armored body with a tall, sail-like dorsal fin. Coloration is generally dark brown with lighter patterns or spots. Broad pectoral and caudal fins, and a sucker mouth adapted for scraping algae. Adults can reach 15–18 inches.
Flattened, armored body with dark brown to black base color accented with bright yellow-orange spots or patterns on fins and body. Broad pectoral and caudal fins with a large sucker mouth. Adults reach 7–9 inches; males often display more vivid coloration.
Flattened, armored body with a dark brown to black base color and bright yellow/golden spots resembling cactus spines. Broad pectoral and caudal fins, and a large sucker mouth. Adults reach 7–10 inches. Males develop small odontodes on pectoral fins during breeding.
Flattened, armored body with dark brown to black base color and bright yellow/golden spots. Broad pectoral and caudal fins with a large sucker mouth. Adults reach 8–12 inches; males often develop small odontodes on pectoral fins during breeding.
