Neoplecostomus is a genus of armored catfishes native to South America. Neoplecostomus can be distinguished from all other loricariids by a modified shield of small plates on the abdomen with posteriorly directed odontodes; the shield appears to act as a holdfast. The color pattern is generally mottled brown with the abdomen white. The head is long, rounded, and shovel-shaped. The fin spines are weak. Neoplecostomus species range from about 7.5–10.3 centimetres (3.0–4.1 in SL. The species of Neoplecostomus live in fast water.