perfi cially similar to aspredinids; however, they
possess odontodes like other loricarioids, particularly
well developed on a plate on the snout (Bailey
and Baskin 1976; Schaefer et al. 1989; Schaefer
1990). They are found in fl oodplain lakes and small
streams and have been hypothesized to have a respiratory
stomach (Armbruster 1998).
Astroblepidae (Naked Suckermouth or Climbing
Catfi shes)
Astroblepids have a suckermouth, but are not armorplated.
They live in torrential streams of the Andes
and feed on insect larvae. Astroblepids are capable