Definition:

A term used to refer to any fish that has hard protective plates or scutes on their body as protection. These plates are usually bony, offering a harder barrier than typical scales. Many catfish have such protective plates, and are often referred to as armored catfish.

Historically, the Placodermi were the earliest armored fish, living millions of years ago. Currently the term armoured refers to the suckermouth catfish composing the Loricariidae family, the popular Corydoras family, the Callichthyidae family, and the thorny catfishes that make up the Doradidae family.