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Definition of leopard pleco
leopard pleco
Plural:leopard plecos
leopard pleco Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
9
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A large, heavily armored freshwater catfish native to the Amazon and Orinoco basins in South America, characterized by prominent sail-like dorsal fins and a striking pattern of dark spots resembling a leopard.
Example
"The novice aquarist was surprised when their tiny leopard pleco grew to be over a foot long, requiring a massive tank upgrade."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for leopard plecoWord Nuance & Usage
In the aquarium trade, 'leopard pleco' typically refers to the sailfin pleco (Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps), though it is sometimes casually applied to other similarly spotted L-number catfish.
• Nearby Words
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Leopard pleco. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/leopard pleco