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Definition of vampire pleco

vampire pleco

Plural:vampire plecos
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vampire pleco Lexical Profile

• noun

1

A striking species of freshwater armored catfish (Leporacanthicus galaxias) native to the Amazon Basin, characterized by a dark body covered in white or yellow spots and possessing two distinct, fang-like teeth in its upper jaw.

Example

"The aquarium hobbyist eagerly set up a fast-flowing, well-oxygenated tank to accommodate her newly purchased vampire pleco."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for vampire pleco

Word Nuance & Usage

Despite the menacing name, this catfish does not drink blood; the 'vampire' moniker strictly refers to its two prominent, fang-like upper teeth used for extracting aquatic snails from their shells.

• Nearby Words

valparaiso
valve
valverde
vampire pleco
vampire tetra
vamsadhara
van

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the aquarium trade, combining 'vampire' (noting its distinct dentition) and 'pleco', a common colloquial abbreviation for loricariid armored catfish.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Vampire pleco. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/vampire pleco
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