Armoured Catfishes

The spotted hoplo, Megalechis thoracata, is a callichthyid catfish widespread across northern South America, living primarily in still waters. Still widely referred to as Hoplosternum thoracatum, it can breathe atmospheric air, absorbing the oxygen through the intestine, and this lets it endure poor conditions in the wild. It is also eaten as a food fish in parts of South America.

The skunk cory, Brochis arcuata, long known as Corydoras arcuatus, is an armoured catfish from the upper Amazon region in Brazil, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia. It is among the more popular Corydoras in the hobby and is also known as the 'arched cory' or C020. Several similar-looking congeners exist, particularly Hoplisoma urucu, in which the black body stripe ends behind the eye, and the larger C. narcissus from the rio Purus.

The elegant cory, Gastrodermus elegans, long known as Corydoras elegans, is an armoured catfish from the western Amazon basin in Peru, Ecuador and Brazil. Unlike most congeners it spends a fair amount of time away from the substrate, often forming groups in midwater. It gives its name to the unofficial 'C. elegans group' of similar species, which includes G. nanus and G. undulatus plus many C- and CW-numbered fishes of uncertain status.

Hoplisoma albolineatum (C056), long known as Corydoras albolineatus, is an armoured catfish from the Río Iténez, or Guaporé, system in Bolivia and Brazil. It has a wide white longitudinal band and unmarked fins, and may be confused with the deeper-bodied H. xinguense. In the wild it forms aggregations of up to several thousand over sandy substrates and sand banks. It is not common in the hobby but is available occasionally.

The fairy cory, Hoplisoma atropersonatum, long known as Corydoras atropersonatus, is an armoured catfish known only from the Tigre and Nanay drainages in Ecuador and Peru. It is sometimes confused with Brochis sychri, a more elongate fish with a longer snout, and more closely with C097, traded as C. sychri 'longnose'. C097 has a snout of intermediate length and better-defined, more widely spaced dark spots.

Boeseman's catfish, Hoplisoma boesemani, long known as Corydoras boesemani, is an armoured catfish endemic to the upper Suriname River system in Suriname. It appears abundant there, in clear, soft, acidic water over sand, mud and leaf litter, with juveniles forming large aggregations and adults smaller groups. It is uncommon in the hobby but has been collected on a handful of occasions.

The blackstripe cory, Hoplisoma bondi, long known as Corydoras bondi, is an armoured catfish from Venezuela, Guyana and Suriname, including the Essequibo and Courantyne systems. It was once considered common in the hobby, but many fish traded under the name may be the similar H. sipaliwini or H. coppenamense. H. sipaliwini has larger body spots and a dark marking on the first dorsal-fin rays, while H. coppenamense is more orangish.

The barredtail cory, Hoplisoma cochui, long known as Corydoras cochui, is a small armoured catfish native to the upper rio Araguaia in central Brazil. It grows to around 35 mm SL and has been assigned the code C022. It can be told apart from the similar H. habrosum by the 4 to 5 dark markings along each side of the body, where H. habrosum has 2 to 3.

Hoplisoma flaveolum, long known as Corydoras flaveolus, is an armoured catfish from tributaries of the rio Tietê in the upper rio Paraná basin, São Paulo state, Brazil. It is exceptionally rare in the hobby. Its closest congener is H. lacrimostigmata, from which it differs in having more serrations on the pectoral- and dorsal-fin spines, a rounded snout and flanks and fins densely patterned with spots and bars.

Scleromystax salmacis is a small armoured catfish known only from the rios Mampituba and Araranguá in Santa Catarina state, southern Brazil. It is most similar to S. macropterus but lacks a black spot at the base of the median caudal-fin rays and has more irregular transverse blotches. The dorsal and pectoral fins are equal in length in both sexes, and the type locality was a small, clear, slow-moving pool over mud-covered rock.

The giant brochis, Brochis britskii, long known as Corydoras britskii, is an armoured catfish restricted to the upper rio Paraguay in Mato Grosso state, Brazil. It grows to around 90 mm SL and can be told from B. splendens and B. multiradiata, the other two species long kept in Brochis, by its 15 to 18 dorsal-fin rays. It forms aggregations in smaller tributaries and still waters such as backwaters, oxbows and marginal lakes.

Brochis condiscipulus, long known as Corydoras condiscipulus, is an armoured catfish native to the Oyapock (Oiapoque) river system in French Guiana and Amapá state, Brazil. It often occurs alongside the similar-looking Hoplisoma oiapoquense, from which it differs in its larger adult size, narrower body, shorter pectoral spine and longer snout.

Brochis delphax, long known as Corydoras delphax, is an armoured catfish from the Río Inírida and other parts of the upper Orinoco basin in Colombia. The name is used often in the trade, sometimes for misidentified congeners, while B. delphax itself is often traded as C. punctatus. A relatively elongated snout, body spots that fade in adults and spots in the caudal fin are said to separate it from B. agassizii, Hoplisoma brevirostre and others.

Brochis geryi, long known as Corydoras geryi, is an armoured catfish from the Río Mamoré basin in Bolivia. Not commonly seen, it is one of the larger corys in the hobby at around 7 cm.

Brochis gomezi, long known as Corydoras gomezi, is an armoured catfish from the western Amazon basin in Colombia and Peru, including the 'Tres Fronteras' region. Collection records are scarce and its range is unclear. It resembles B. leopardus, B. orphnopterus, C018 and C131, but has separate, distinct spots on the upper body, six bands on the caudal fin and a relatively slender body.

The mosaic cory, Brochis haraldschultzi, long known as Corydoras haraldschultzi, is an armoured catfish endemic to the rio Guaporé (Río Iténez) in northeastern Bolivia and western Brazil. It resembles Hoplisoma sterbai but has a more extended snout and grows larger, to 85 mm SL. Its head carries dark vermiculations and spots on a light background, where H. sterbai has light markings on dark. The type locality was once modified to the rio Tocantins, well over 1000 km away, but the original Guaporé locality appears to be correct.

The imitator cory, Brochis imitator, long known as Corydoras imitator, is an armoured catfish endemic to the upper rio Negro basin in northern Brazil and southern Venezuela. It is one of several rio Negro congeners with an oblique dark bar along the dorsal surface of the body, a group that includes Hoplisoma adolfoi, H. burgessi and H. duplicareum. It inhabits pristine blackwater tributaries and flooded forest with tea-coloured water, very little hardness and a pH of 4.0-6.0.

Brochis incolicana (C001), long known as Corydoras incolicana, is an armoured catfish from the rio Içana in the upper rio Negro basin, northern Brazil. It presumably also occurs in eastern Colombia, where the Içana forms the border. The first fish to receive a 'C' number, in 1993, it was described the same year in a hobbyist magazine and is difficult to identify accurately. The colour pattern is said to be extremely variable, but the dark bar through the eye and the dark marking at the dorsal-fin base are apparently consistent.

Brochis lamberti (C009), long known as Corydoras lamberti, is an armoured catfish known only from the lower Río Pastaza, a tributary of the Río Marañón in Loreto, northern Peru. Similar-looking fish are known from tributaries close to Iquitos, and it is unclear whether these, 'C009' and B. lamberti are the same species. It is rare in the hobby and difficult to identify without collection details, so it may have been traded under other names.

The leopard cory, Brochis leopardus, long known as Corydoras leopardus, is a spotted armoured catfish from the western Amazon basin in Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia and Brazil. It looks very like Hoplisoma julii and H. trilineatum, but has a longer, more pointed snout and grows larger. Dias et al. (2024) moved it to the genus Brochis and put the two lookalikes in Hoplisoma, so the resemblance does not reflect a close relationship. The type specimens were aquarium imports.

Known in the hobby as the hognose 'Brochis', Brochis multiradiata, long known as Corydoras multiradiatus, is an armoured catfish from the northwestern Amazon basin in Ecuador and Peru. Formerly placed in Brochis, it has an extended snout and 17-18 dorsal-fin rays, against 6-8 in other Corydoras. Little is known of its habitat, but it is likely to live in smaller tributaries and still waters such as backwaters and oxbows, as closely related species do.

Brochis ornata, long known as Corydoras ornatus, is a larger armoured catfish from the lower Rio Tapajós basin in Brazil, growing to around 70 mm SL. Its habitat is not recorded and no captive breeding information is available. Very peaceful, it should be kept in a group over fine sand, with plenty of cover and well-oxygenated water.

Brochis pinheiroi, long known as Corydoras pinheiroi, is an armoured catfish from Rondônia, Brazil, with a pattern similar to that of Hoplisoma sterbai. It lacks the orange pectoral spines of that species and is rare in the hobby. Like other corys it is peaceful, should be kept in a group of at least six, and needs well-oxygenated water and a clean substrate.

The reticulated cory, Brochis reticulata, long known as Corydoras reticulatus, is an armoured catfish from the lower Amazon basin in Brazil, also known as the network cory. One of the commoner species seen in dealers' tanks, it is a good cory for the beginner. Very peaceful, it should be kept in a group of at least six, and like other corys it is sensitive to dirty substrates.

The flagtail cory, Brochis robineae, long known as Corydoras robineae, is an armoured catfish from the upper Rio Negro in Brazil, also known as the bannertail cory. It is found in the main river and its tributaries. Not the easiest Corydoras to induce to spawn, it can still be bred in a similar way to many other species in the genus. Very peaceful, it should be kept in a group of at least six.

Brochis seussi, long known as Corydoras seussi, is an armoured catfish from the Rio Mamoré basin and Rio Poranga in Brazil, also referred to by its C-number, C027. Very similar in appearance to Hoplisoma gossei, it can be distinguished by its less rounded snout. Very peaceful, it should be kept in a group of at least six.

The emerald 'brochis', Brochis splendens, long known as Corydoras splendens, is an armoured catfish recorded throughout much of the Amazon basin in Brazil, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia. It is sometimes called the 'common brochis', and juveniles are sometimes traded as 'hi-fin cory' for their enlarged dorsal fin. Its 10 to 12 dorsal-fin rays separate it from B. britskii and B. multiradiata, the other two species long kept in Brochis, and certain populations are thought likely to represent distinct species.

The Pastaza cory, Corydoras pastazensis, is an armoured catfish from the upper Río Pastaza basin in Ecuador and the ríos Ucayali and Puinahua in Peru. The Río Tigre form was raised to species status as C. orcesi, a decision not followed by all authorities. The two are relatively easy to tell apart: in C. pastazensis the dark vertical bar breaks up or tapers off low on the body, and the body is peppered with numerous small dark spots.

The northern longnose cory, Corydoras septentrionalis, is an armoured catfish from the Rio Orinoco in Venezuela and possibly Colombia. It superficially resembles C. simulatus and C. amapaensis. C. amapaensis has a clear caudal fin, where this species has a noticeably barred one. It is found in main river channels and tributaries.

Gastrodermus gracilis, long known as Corydoras gracilis, is a small armoured catfish from the central Amazon basin in Brazil, known from the rio Juriti in Pará to the rio Juma in Amazonas. Sometimes called 'shy cory' in the hobby, it has a lightish body with a dark arched stripe along the upper flank, a pattern shared with Brochis arcuata, C. narcissus and Hoplisoma urucu. Only in G. gracilis does the stripe end at the base of the upper caudal-fin rays. It apparently favours minor tributaries with dense riparian vegetation and acidic, tannin-stained water.

The Guaporé cory, Gastrodermus guapore, long known as Corydoras guapore, is an armoured catfish endemic to the rio Guaporé (Río Iténez) in northeastern Bolivia and western Brazil. Unlike most congeners it forms aggregations in midwater and spends much of its time away from the substrate, with a large eye, a more terminal mouth and a strongly forked caudal fin to match. It partly feeds on pelagic zooplankton, so live Daphnia and Artemia belong in its diet. Similar species such as Hoplisoma simile lack these adaptations.

The tail-spot pygmy cory, Gastrodermus hastatus, long known as Corydoras hastatus, is a tiny armoured catfish with a wide range across the Amazon and Río Paraguay basins. It is known from Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay and northeastern Argentina. Unlike most congeners it swims in midwater, forming mixed schools with similarly patterned small characids such as Serrapinnus kriegi. It is frequently confused with G. pygmaeus, but has a dark, roughly diamond-shaped spot on the caudal peduncle where G. pygmaeus has a dark lateral stripe.

The Napo cory, Gastrodermus napoensis, long known as Corydoras napoensis, is an armoured catfish from the upper Amazon in Peru and Colombia, including the Rio Napo and Rio Nanay. It belongs to the 'elegans group' of similar species with G. elegans, G. bilineatus and G. nanus. Males show a dark marking in the upper dorsal fin, but females are much harder to identify, especially as G. napoensis and G. elegans occur together and are often sold in mixed shipments.

Nijssen's cory, Gastrodermus nijsseni, long known as Corydoras nijsseni, is an armoured catfish endemic to the Rio Negro basin in Brazil, living in acidic blackwater rivers and creeks. It was first described as a subspecies of G. elegans, and its rounded snout recalls that species, though its colour pattern is closer to Hoplisoma adolfoi. It suits a Rio Negro biotope or other softwater community.

Burgess' cory, Hoplisoma burgessi, long known as Corydoras burgessi, is an armoured catfish apparently endemic to the upper rio Negro basin in Brazil. One of several similarly patterned congeners, including H. adolfoi, H. davidsandsi and H. duplicareum, it has a black marking restricted to the area beneath the dorsal fin and extending into it, with a yellowish patch on top of the head. Rio Negro habitats are mostly blackwater tributaries and flooded forest.

The slate cory, Hoplisoma concolor, long known as Corydoras concolor, is an armoured catfish restricted to parts of the Orinoco river system in western Venezuela. Its uniformly greyish colour pattern sets it apart from congeners, along with a deep body, large eye and relatively long dorsal-fin spine. Mature males develop an extended dorsal fin.

Hoplisoma copei, long known as Corydoras copei, is an armoured catfish from Peru, apparently endemic to the Río Pastaza basin and possibly the lower Río Marañón. It is not well known and rarely traded. It looks very similar to several congeners, particularly H. acrense and H. cruziense, and little has been written about it since its description.

The Santa Cruz cory, Hoplisoma cruziense, long known as Corydoras cruziensis, is an armoured catfish from the Bolivian portion of the Río Madeira basin. The precise extent of its range is unclear and may include the Mamoré and Beni drainages. It is not well documented, but is said to differ from C. punctatus in having larger dark body markings, which form an irregular midlateral stripe in some specimens.

Sand's cory, Hoplisoma davidsandsi, long known as Corydoras davidsandsi, is an armoured catfish apparently endemic to the rio Unini system in the lower rio Negro basin, Brazil. One of a group of rio Negro species with an oblique dark bar along the back, it shares with H. melini a bar that splits in two above the caudal peduncle. It has a pale orange area between the facial stripe and dorsal bar and no further dark markings on the flanks.

The palespotted cory, Hoplisoma gossei, long known as Corydoras gossei, is an armoured catfish from the rio Mamoré watershed in Rondônia state, northwestern Brazil. It is also likely to occur in northern Bolivia, since the Mamoré forms the border between the two countries at the type locality. Also known as 'smokey cory' and 'Gosse's cory', it shares its colour pattern with Brochis seussi from the same river, which has a noticeably prolonged snout. A form referred to as 'CW069' appears intermediate between the two.

Hoplisoma griseum, long known as Corydoras griseus, is an armoured catfish from Guyana, where it may be restricted to the Potaro River in the Essequibo watershed. It was described from aquarium specimens said to come from 'very small water courses of the Amazon', and the type locality was later corrected to the Potaro by Nijssen and Isbrücker (1980). Similar-looking fishes from Rondônia state, Brazil, carry the 'C' numbers C040 and C073, and C134 from Amapá state is also comparable.

The salt and pepper cory, Hoplisoma habrosum, long known as Corydoras habrosus, is a tiny armoured catfish from left bank tributaries of the upper Orinoco in Colombia and Venezuela. Most records come from the Río Apure watershed in the Llanos, where it apparently favours lagoons, streams, inundated forest and grassland with little flow. Also called 'dainty cory' and 'Venezuelan pygmy cory', it has 2-3 dark markings along the side of the body, against 4-5 in the similar H. cochui.

The julii cory, Hoplisoma julii, long known as Corydoras julii, is an armoured catfish from coastal river systems south of the Amazon delta in northeastern Brazil. Also known as 'leopard cory' or 'three-lined cory', it is often confused with H. trilineatum from the upper Amazon, and many fish traded as C. julii are that species. H. julii has numerous small, distinct spots on the head, where H. trilineatum has vermiform markings, though some H. trilineatum are spotted too.

Hoplisoma kanei, long known as Corydoras kanei, is an armoured catfish that appears to be native to the rio Negro basin in Brazil, possibly only the rio Branco drainage. Before description it was assigned the 'C' numbers C026 and C046. It is most easily confused with H. atropersonatum and sometimes traded as that species, but has dark markings in the anal and caudal fins, more numerous and smaller dark spots on the body, and a darker base colouration.

Hoplisoma loretoense, long known as Corydoras loretoensis, is an armoured catfish from the upper Amazon in Peru, growing to around 50 mm SL. The profile singles out its very long dorsal spine. Nothing is recorded of its habitat.

Hoplisoma loxozonum, long known as Corydoras loxozonus, is an armoured catfish from the Rio Meta basin in Colombia, also referred to by its C-number, C082. Its habitat in the wild is unknown. It prefers slightly lower temperatures than many Corydoras, which matters when choosing tankmates.

The false bandit cory, Hoplisoma melini, long known as Corydoras melini, is an armoured catfish from tributaries of the rios Negro, Caquetá and Orinoco in Brazil and Colombia. Its oblique dark bar along the back splits into two above the caudal peduncle, a feature shared only with H. davidsandsi, from which the dark markings on its flanks separate it. The rio Tiquié population is known in the hobby as 'C084', and a similar, slightly larger form from Peru as 'C085'.

The bandit cory, Hoplisoma metae, long known as Corydoras metae, is an armoured catfish endemic to the upper Río Meta, an Orinoco tributary in eastern Colombia. It appears to be absent from the lower Meta and has not been recorded in Venezuela. Also called 'masked' or 'Meta' cory, it has an oblique dark bar on the rear of the body that ends at the caudal-fin base without splitting, and no other dark markings on the body.

The flag-tailed panda cory, Hoplisoma oiapoquense, long known as Corydoras oiapoquensis, is an armoured catfish from the upper Rio Oyapock in French Guiana and Brazil. It lives alongside the near-identical Brochis condiscipulus, and the two are often found shoaling together. The only external differences seem to be the longer snout and wider distribution in the Oyapock of B. condiscipulus.

The pepper cory, Hoplisoma paleatum, long known as Corydoras paleatus, is an armoured catfish from southern Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina. Along with the bronze cory it is one of the most commonly found corys in the hobby. Most fish on sale are captive bred for the trade, and wild-caught specimens are much more vividly coloured. In nature it lives in rivers, tributaries and standing waters including pools and small lakes.

The panda cory, Hoplisoma panda, long known as Corydoras panda, is an armoured catfish from the upper Amazon in Peru, named for dark and light markings that recall the giant panda. Wildly expensive when first imported in the late 1970s, it is now mass-produced, and virtually all fish in the trade are farmed. Wild fish live in clear and blackwater streams that cool to around 19 °C when Andean meltwater arrives.

Hoplisoma polystictum, long known as Corydoras polystictus, is a small armoured catfish from the upper Rio Paraguay in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso. It inhabits small tributaries, creeks, areas of flooded forest and sand banks. It may be confused with H. simile but is easily distinguished by its unpatterned caudal peduncle, since H. simile has a blueish smudge-like marking there. Very peaceful, it is best kept in a group of at least six.

The smudge spot cory, Hoplisoma simile, long known as Corydoras similis, is an armoured catfish from the Rio Madeira basin in Brazil. Several species can be confused with it at first glance, including Gastrodermus guapore, H. caudimaculatum, C. ourastigma and Brochis spectabilis, but they are easily told apart on close examination. H. caudimaculatum has a much darker, better-defined blotch at the caudal peduncle, and the long-snouted C. ourastigma has a grey or black blotch where H. simile has a blueish one.

Sterba's cory, Hoplisoma sterbai, long known as Corydoras sterbai, is a peaceful armoured catfish from Bolivia and Brazil, marked with light spots on a dark head. Almost all fish in the trade are produced commercially on farms. The head pattern separates it from the similar Brochis haraldschultzi, in which the markings are dark on a light background, and it is generally considered one of the easiest Corydoras to spawn.

The three-lined cory, Hoplisoma trilineatum, long known as Corydoras trilineatus, is an armoured catfish from the Amazon basin in Colombia, Peru and Brazil and coastal rivers of Suriname. Most of the fish sold as C. julii are in fact this species, and the two are very hard to tell apart without knowing where the fish were collected. Peaceful and hardy, it ranks among the very best choices for the newcomer to catfish and is one of the easiest Corydoras to spawn.

The Xingu cory, Hoplisoma xinguense, long known as Corydoras xinguensis, is a small spotted armoured catfish from creeks in the upper Rio Xingu basin in Mato Grosso, Brazil. It is also sold as the dust cory, and fish traded under the C-numbers C055 and C105 to C108 have all been identified as this species. Dias et al. (2024) moved it to Hoplisoma as Hoplisoma xinguense. One of the smaller corys, it is best kept in a group of ten or more.

The bar-tailed hoplo, Megalechis picta, is a callichthyid catfish widely distributed east of the Andes in Brazil, Venezuela and Guyana. It is recorded from the Amazon, Orinoco and upper Essequibo systems. Previously referred to as M. thoracata, it can be told from that species by a dark vertical bar in the caudal-fin and a longer dorsal-fin spine. Peaceful and hardy, it can even tolerate hypoxic conditions, and the male builds a nest.

The bronze cory, Osteogaster aenea, long known as Corydoras aeneus, is an armoured catfish described from Trinidad and accepted to occur across much of South America. That range looks more like a complex of similar, distinct species than a single one, and fish from outside Trinidad are of uncertain identity. Aquarium fish are almost all commercially farmed, and the names C. schultzei and C. venezuelanus are routinely misapplied to them.

Osteogaster eques, long known as Corydoras eques, is an armoured catfish described from the Amazon at Codajás, on the rio Solimões main channel in western Brazil. Its wider range is unclear, although similar-looking fish have been exported from Peru on occasion. It is sometimes confused with C. venezuelanus, and two similar unidentified fishes from Peru carry the codes CW007 and CW043.

The rusty cory, Osteogaster rabauti, long known as Corydoras rabauti, is an armoured catfish known mostly from the rio Javarí, which forms much of the border between Brazil and Peru. It possibly also occurs in Colombia, but the full extent of its range is somewhat unclear. Often confused with the very similar O. zygata, it can be told apart by the broad dark stripe on the upper body, which extends onto the lower part of the caudal peduncle. An albino form is available on occasion.

The black band cory, Osteogaster zygata, long known as Corydoras zygatus, is an armoured catfish from the middle Río Marañón watershed in eastern Ecuador and northern Peru. Also known in the trade as the 'zygus cory', it looks very similar to O. rabauti. In O. zygata the broad dark stripe on the upper body stops short of the lower caudal peduncle, and in O. rabauti it extends onto it.

The banded 'cory', Scleromystax barbatus, is an armoured catfish from coastal rivers in south-east Brazil, between Rio de Janeiro and Santa Catarina. At 90-100 mm it is the largest of the Corydoradinae, and it was formerly included in Corydoras. The hobby also knows it as 'bearded cory', 'checkerboard cory' and 'filigree cory'. Males are aggressively territorial towards one another and cannot be kept together in smaller aquaria.

Scleromystax sp. C113 is an unidentified armoured catfish apparently collected in Bahia state, eastern Brazil, south of Salvador da Bahia. Like its congeners it is a facultative air breather and occasionally rises to gulp air at the surface, and its stiffened pectoral-fin spines can give a very painful 'sting'. Males are aggressively territorial towards one another and cannot be kept together in smaller aquaria.

The spotted cory, Brochis agassizii, long known as Corydoras agassizii, is an armoured catfish from the Amazon around the border of Brazil and Peru, described from near Tabatinga. Its name is commonly misapplied to similar-looking fishes, and it can be hard to identify even when the collection locality is known. It is most often confused with B. ambiacus, and fish matching that species appear far more common in the trade.

Brochis ambiacus, long known as Corydoras ambiacus, is an armoured catfish from the upper Amazon tributaries of Peru, Brazil, Colombia and Ecuador, described from the Río Ampiyacu. Its name is commonly misapplied to similar-looking fishes, particularly B. agassizii, and the colour pattern is variable. Cope described a large black spot covering the front half of the dorsal fin, and fish matching this are far more common in the trade than those matching B. agassizii.

The saddle cory, Brochis ephippifera, long known as Corydoras ephippifer, is an armoured catfish native to Amapá state in northeastern Brazil. It resembles several congeners, including B. agassizii, Hoplisoma brevirostre, B. delphax and H. melanistium, but seems unique among them in having all fins except the dorsal transparent and unmarked. Detailed observations from the wild are scarce.

The Miguelito cory, Brochis virginiae, long known as Corydoras virginiae, is an armoured catfish considered endemic to the río Ucayali drainage in Peru. It is sometimes referred to as 'Virginia's catfish', Corydoras sp. 'Sangama' or 'Zangama', and prior to description it was misidentified as both Corydoras bicolor and C. delphax. Peaceful and gregarious, it should be kept in a group of at least four to six.

The blacktop cory, Corydoras acutus, is an armoured catfish from the upper Amazon basin in Brazil, Peru, Ecuador and possibly Bolivia. It can be confused with three similar fishes known as C024, C077 and C109. C024 and C109 occur thousands of kilometres outside its range, but C077 lives alongside it in the rio Abunã and is only known to differ in growing smaller. Some specimens lack the dark marking in the dorsal fin.

Corydoras simulatus is an armoured catfish known only from the upper Meta watershed in Colombia. It can be identified from most similar-looking congeners by its pair of small rictal barbels. The colour pattern varies considerably with collection locality and some forms have been misidentified as other species, while fish with a dark marking on the sides are sometimes referred to as Corydoras sp. 'olga'.

C115 is an unidentified armoured catfish from the upper Río Madre de Dios in southern Peru, between Manú National Park and Puerto Maldonado. It was traded as both C115 and C116, now thought to be the same species, and fish sold as C. sp. 'Manu' variants may belong here too. It grows to around 70 mm SL and is highly variable in colour pattern, particularly in the extent of dark pigmentation on the front of the body.

The Acre cory, Hoplisoma acrense, long known as Corydoras acrensis, is an armoured catfish that appears to be endemic to the rio Juruá basin in Acre State, Brazil. It was apparently described from a single specimen, and little has been written about it since. Peaceful and gregarious, it should be kept in a group of at least 4-6.

Adolfo's cory, Hoplisoma adolfoi, long known as Corydoras adolfoi, is an armoured catfish apparently highly endemic to the upper rio Negro near São Gabriel da Cachoeira, Brazil. One of several rio Negro Corydoras with an oblique dark bar along the back, it is most easily confused with H. duplicareum and cannot be separated from it reliably by colour. It inhabits pristine blackwater tributaries and flooded forest.

Hoplisoma armatum, long known as Corydoras armatus, is an armoured catfish from the Río Huallaga watershed in Peru, to which it may be endemic. Fish from the upper rio Madeira in Brazil and Bolivia have been traded as C. sp. 'dorsalis' and C. sp. 'ogawae' and are officially considered conspecific, although the two areas lie almost 2500 km apart. It can also be confused with H. loretoense but has a deeper body and a longer, slightly curved dorsal-fin spine.

Axelrod's cory, Hoplisoma axelrodi, long known as Corydoras axelrodi, is an armoured catfish apparently endemic to the Río Meta drainage in Colombia, a tributary of the Orinoco. Also known as the 'pink corydoras', it has between one and three dark stripes on each flank. It resembles H. loxozonum, C003 and CW021, and all four are sometimes traded as C. 'deckeri'. In H. axelrodi the principal stripe runs around midbody.

The spotted cory, Hoplisoma brevirostre, long known as Corydoras brevirostris, is an armoured catfish usually said to occur in the Orinoco system in Venezuela and coastal Suriname. It was described from an aquarium specimen and its wider distribution is somewhat vague. It belongs to a group of similar congeners, including H. melanistium, Brochis delphax and B. ephippifera, that are widely misidentified, and is generally identified by a short, rounded snout and dark bars in the caudal fin.

The tailspot cory, Hoplisoma caudimaculatum, long known as Corydoras caudimaculatus, is an armoured catfish endemic to the rio Guaporé (Iténez) drainage in western Brazil and Bolivia. A well-defined blackish spot on the caudal peduncle separates it from H. simile, in which the marking is a smudged bluish one. Gastrodermus guapore has a comparable pattern but a distinctly rounded snout, and tends to swim above the substrate.

Hoplisoma duplicareum, long known as Corydoras duplicareus, is an armoured catfish known only from a small portion of the upper rio Negro system in Brazil. It belongs to a group of rio Negro congeners with an oblique dark bar along the back, and is most easily confused with H. adolfoi. The bar tends to be broader and the orange nape patch more intense in H. duplicareum, but neither character separates the two reliably.

Hoplisoma ehrhardti, long known as Corydoras ehrhardti, is an armoured catfish from eastern Brazil, known from southern São Paulo to northern Santa Catarina states. It inhabits minor rivers and small streams with soft substrates, a number of them modified by human activity. It is rarely traded and resembles several congeners, including H. carlae, H. paleatum and H. steindachneri.

Hoplisoma lacrimostigmata, long known as Corydoras lacrimostigmata, is a small armoured catfish known only from the rio Ivaí basin, in the rio Paraná drainage of Paraná state, southern Brazil. It has three nasal pores and four to six small, rounded black blotches along the centre of the flank. It is most similar to H. flaveolum, but has fewer serrations on the pectoral- and dorsal-fin spines, a slightly pointed snout and a more slender body.

Aspidoras pauciradiatus is a small armoured catfish that appears restricted to the upper Araguaia basin in Goiás state, Brazil. Sometimes called the 'false corydoras' or 'sixray corydoras', it has 6 soft dorsal-fin rays against 7 in other Aspidoras, plus a distinctive colour pattern. Aspidoras are told from the very similar Corydoras mainly by having two cranial fontanels.

Aspidoras raimundi (C125) is a small armoured catfish from coastal river drainages in north and northeastern Brazil. The fish sold as A. spilotus, from Ceará state, is now treated as the same species. A peaceful, schooling species, it grows to around 45 mm SL.

Aspidoras taurus is a small armoured catfish known only from the upper Itiquira and Taquari rivers, in the rio Paraguay system of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Relatively common in the aquarium trade, it is sometimes mislabelled as A. menezesi, a valid but distinct species. Thick skin covering the infraorbitals, preopercle and reduced nuchal plate separates it from congeners.

Brochis pantanalensis, long known as Corydoras pantanalensis, is an armoured catfish from the Bolivian part of the Pantanal wetland, also referred to by its C-number, C005. Its habitat is typified by crystal clear waters and an abundance of aquatic vegetation. Like other corys it is sensitive to dirty substrates and can lose its barbels in substandard conditions, and it should be kept in a group of at least six.

Brochis robusta, long known as Corydoras robustus, is an armoured catfish endemic to the Rio Purus drainage in Brazil. It grows to around 95 mm SL, and as they mature males in particular develop an extended first dorsal-fin ray. It is not seen all that often in the trade, and in nature it inhabits small tributaries, creeks, areas of flooded forest and sand banks.

The false network cory, Brochis sodalis, long known as Corydoras sodalis, is an armoured catfish from the upper Amazon in Loreto, Peru, and Amazonas state, Brazil. It inhabits small tributaries, creeks, pools and areas of flooded forest. Very peaceful, it is best kept in a group of at least six, and it can be spawned in a similar way to other Corydoras.

The millennium cory, Brochis spectabilis, long known as Corydoras spectabilis, is an armoured catfish from the Guaporé River basin in Brazil. The name comes from its being the first catfish species described in 2000, although the description appeared in late 1999 in a journal dated January 2000. Gastrodermus guapore, C. ourastigma, Hoplisoma simile and H. caudimaculatum can be confused with it, but B. spectabilis has spotted patterning on the body and a caudal spot with a well-defined edge.

Fowler's cory, Corydoras fowleri, is a long-snouted armoured catfish from the Amazon basin in Peru. Also known as the 'huanta cory' and 'milegros cory', it is often confused with C. coriatae and C. semiaquilus, and aquarium fish are regularly misidentified. Most long-snouted cories grow larger and are more aggressive than other Corydoras, and this one is suitable only for larger community aquaria.

The long-nosed skunk cory, Corydoras narcissus, is an armoured catfish that appears to be endemic to the Rio Purus in Brazil. It lives alongside Brochis arcuata and looks very similar at first glance, but has an elongated snout where that of B. arcuata is much more rounded. Large for a Corydoras at around 75 mm SL, it does best with some water flow in the tank.

The long-nosed smudge spot cory, Corydoras ourastigma, is an armoured catfish from the Rio Purus basin in Brazil. It can be confused with Gastrodermus guapore, Hoplisoma caudimaculatum, H. simile and Brochis spectabilis, but is the only one with an obvious long snout. Its smudged caudal blotch resembles that of H. simile but is grey to black. Nothing is recorded of its habitat.

The Peru black cory, Corydoras semiaquilis, is a long-nosed armoured catfish from the western Amazon basin in Peru and Brazil. A few colour forms are available in the trade, sometimes under invalid names such as C. 'huanta' or C. 'milagros'. Males can be somewhat aggressive towards one another, although with sufficient space no real damage should occur, and a group of at least six is best.

The porthole catfish, Dianema longibarbis, is a peaceful callichthyid catfish from the Amazon basin in Peru and Brazil. It is named for the row of spots running along the lateral line. All specimens in the trade are wild-caught and new imports tend to be delicate and susceptible to disease, but once acclimatised it usually proves very hardy and can live for over 10 years.

The flagtail catfish, Dianema urostriatum, is a peaceful callichthyid catfish from parts of the Brazilian Amazon basin. It lives away from the main river channels in slower creeks, tributaries, floodplain lakes and ponds. All specimens in the trade are wild-caught and new imports can be delicate, but once acclimatised it usually proves very hardy and adaptable, and suits the larger community tank.

The pygmy cory, Gastrodermus pygmaeus, long known as Corydoras pygmaeus, is one of a handful of tiny Corydoras species and appears to be endemic to the Rio Madeira basin, Brazil. Unlike most of its congeners it swims in midwater. It is most often confused with G. hastatus, which has a dark diamond-shaped spot at the caudal peduncle, where G. pygmaeus has a dark stripe along the entire lateral line. Easily intimidated by larger tankmates, it is best kept in a group of at least six with other tiny species.

Hoplisoma gladysae, long known as Corydoras gladysae, is an armoured catfish known only from two localities in the Río Calchaquí watershed in Salta province, northwestern Argentina. The Calchaquí is a swift, snow-fed mountain river with hard water, and the species shows adaptations to life among rocks in flowing water, including a cryptic colour pattern, short fin spines and reduced body depth. It is unlikely to be collected for commercial purposes.

The spotted cory, Hoplisoma melanistium, long known as Corydoras melanistius, is an armoured catfish from coastal rivers and tributaries of Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. It can be told from the similar Brochis delphax by its 12-13 dorsal-fin rays, against usually 7 in B. delphax. Two subspecies once assigned to it are now H. brevirostre and B. ambiacus.

Natterer's cory, Hoplisoma nattereri, long known as Corydoras nattereri, is an armoured catfish from coastal zones of southern Brazil between Espírito Santo and Paraná. Also known as the blue cory, it needs slightly cool conditions, in which many commonly available fish fail to thrive.

Hoplisoma petracinii, long known as Corydoras petracinii, is an armoured catfish known only from one ephemeral stream in the Río San Lorenzo watershed of Salta province, Argentina. It shows adaptations to life among rocks in flowing water, including a cryptic colour pattern, short dorsal and pectoral spines and reduced body depth. The stream runs almost dry for much of the year and is under great ecological pressure from the nearby city of Salta, road building and dumping of refuse.

Schwartz's cory, Hoplisoma schwartzi, long known as Corydoras schwartzi, is an armoured catfish endemic to the Rio Purus drainage in Brazil. It inhabits small tributaries, creeks, areas of flooded forest and sand banks. Very peaceful, it is best kept in a group of at least six, and although it can be spawned like many other Corydoras, spawning is apparently tricky to induce in this species.

The green-gold cory, Osteogaster melanotaenia, long known as Corydoras melanotaenia, is an armoured catfish from the Rio Meta basin in Colombia. It lives in small tributaries, creeks, flooded forest and sand banks. Also known as the 'elongate bronze cory', it resembles C. aeneus at first glance, but is more elongate and has a golden-yellow tinge to the fins.

The sailfin 'cory', Scleromystax macropterus, is an armoured catfish from coastal rivers of southern Brazil and the rio Paraná basin in Paraguay. Most have been collected from small blackwater streams draining directly into the Atlantic, but it also inhabits roadside ditches. Males are somewhat territorial towards one another and should not be kept together in smaller aquaria, and its stiffened pectoral-fin spines can give a painful 'sting'.

Brochis amandajanea, long known as Corydoras amandajanea, is an armoured catfish from the Rio Miuã system of streams off the upper Rio Negro in Brazil. It is rare in the aquarium trade and appears to be variable in colour pattern, some individuals having larger dark spots on the body. Little has been written about it since its description, and the congener B. cryptica was described from the same locality.

Corydoras aurofrenatus is an armoured catfish from the Río Paraguay-Paraná system in Paraguay, also recorded in Argentina and Bolivia. It has been traded as C. sp. 'Corrientes' and CW005. Each flank carries two dark blotches, one behind the head and one below the adipose fin, and the caudal-fin lobes are long with the upper more extended. C. ellisae has been treated as a junior synonym, although this appears not to have achieved wide acceptance.

Hoplisoma carlae, long known as Corydoras carlae, is an armoured catfish endemic to the lower Río Iguazu in Misiones province, northern Argentina. It appears restricted to small tributaries above the Iguazu Falls with clear, fast-flowing, shallow water, and needs stable, clean conditions. Two large, indistinct dark blotches on each flank separate it from most similar congeners, and it was introduced to the hobby by Hans-Georg Evers in 2010.

The blackfin cory, Hoplisoma leucomelas, long known as Corydoras leucomelas, is an armoured catfish from the upper Amazon in Peru. It schools in very large numbers over soft substrates in blackwater rivers, and is exported in huge numbers, often in 'mixed' or 'spotted Corydoras' consignments with the similar Brochis agassizii, B. ambiacus, B. gomezi and H. schwartzi. An obvious dark band through the eye separates it from B. agassizii and B. ambiacus, and its dark dorsal marking extends into the upper body.

Scleromystax prionotos is an armoured catfish known only from coastal rivers in Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, Brazil. Like its congeners it is a facultative air breather and occasionally rises to gulp air at the surface. Its stiffened pectoral-fin spines can pierce human skin, so care is needed when handling it.