This publication presents a catalogue of the taxa of the neotropical family Loricariidae, the mailed catfishes, including about 600 described species and 70 genera. An attempt is made to assign each species to its proper genus and to arrange the genera into an approximate phylogenetic order. Numerous new combina tions have become necessary. A new tribe, consisting of two new subtribes, and three new genera are herein established. Notes on type-material, recorded in the literature subsequent to an original description, are added. Literature references aim to include all publications containing original descriptions and proposals of new names.