ɐn ˈɛlnˈʌmbɚɹ ɪz nˌɑːɾə fˈɔːɹməl saɪəntˈɪfɪk dˌɛzɪɡnˈeɪʃən, bˌʌt ɪɾ ɐlˈaʊz pˈiːpəl tʊ aɪdˈɛntᵻfˌaɪ vˈɛɹiəs lˈoːɹɪkˌæɹɪˌɪd kˈætfɪʃ baɪ ˈeɪ "kˈɑːmən nˈeɪm" bᵻfˌoːɹ ðə fˈɪʃ ɪz əfˈɪʃəli dᵻskɹˈaɪbd.
An L-number is not a formal scientific designation, but it allows people to identify various loricariid catfish by a "common name" before the fish is officially described.