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Reis & Lehmann 2022 (3)

A new genus has been erected, Rhinotocinclus, (2022) with the type species of Parotocinclus longirostris Garavello, 1988. Abstract: A new genus of Hypopopomatinae armored catfish is described from the northern portions of South America, namely the Amazon, Orinoco and Guianan coastal drainages. The new genus is diagnosed from all remaining hypoptopomatines by having the canal cheek plate on the ventral surface of the head posteriorly elongated and contacting the cleithrum, in addition to other features that distinguish the new genus from specific genera. Five new species are described and 18 species currently allocated in Parotocinclus, Hisonotus, and Curculionichthys are transferred to the new genus and rediagnosed. Parotocinclus amazonensis and P. aripuanensis are considered junior synonyms of P. britskii. The secondary sexual dimorphism of the members of the new genus is detailed and illustrated. Morphological characters are used to delimit four phenotypic groups of species that might have phylogenetic significance, which still have to be properly tested. A key to the species is offered and diagnoses, illustrations, and distribution maps are provided for all species (Reis & Lehmann 2022). Description: Rhinotocinclus polyochrus is most similar to R. longirostris and R. eppleyi, from which it is distinguished by having 3–4 irregular series of middle abdominal plates, while R. longirostris and R. eppleyi have 4–5 series, and by having dark bars 1+2 fused on body, versus all bars separated. Coincidently, R. polyochrus and R. longirostris were described in the same year (Schaefer, 1988 and Garavello, 1988, respectively) and both authors were apparently unaware of the description of the other species, as they were not compared in either description. Unfortunately, R. polyochrus is only known from the type-material, the holotype and one paratype, both being females. Rhinotocinclus polyochrus, listed as Parotocinclus polyochrus, is currently assessed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN (Red List) (Reis & Lehmann 2022). Etymology: Rhinotocinclus masc., from the Greek ????s (Rhinos), beak, snout and Otocinclus, a genus of Hypoptopomatinae, in allusion to the conspicuous and elegant snout of most of its species (Reis & Lehmann 2022). Remarks: Most online searches at the moment (2022) will still give you the old genus name of Parotocinclus polyochrus.

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Parotocinclus polyochrus

Loricariidae

South America: Baria River, Upper Negro River basin, Venezuela. Type Locality: Venezuela, Território Federal Amazonas, Depto. Río Negro, Río Mawarinuma tributary at Neblina base camp, on right bank of riffle; 00°55’N 66°10’W, elevation 120 m.

3.0cm. (1¼s)

22-26°c (71-79°f.)

6.5-7.2.

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Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2022. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 02/2022 )
Reis RE, Lehmann A. P. A new genus of armored catfish (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the Greater Amazon, with a review of the species and description of five new species. Neotrop Ichthyol. 2022.