Description:
Rineloricaria daraha is distinguished from
all its congeners by having seven branched pectoral-fin
rays (vs. six), long digitiform papillae on the ventral
surface of the lower lip (vs. button-like papillae)
and by the presence of a large and multi-angular preanal
plate limited anteriorly by four or more variably
sized plates much smaller than the preanal plate (vs.
a quadrangular preanal plate surrounded by three to
five polygonal plates slightly smaller than the preanal
plate). Reproduction: The Rineloricaria
species are usually cave spawners, where the female
will place their eggs after the male has cleaned inside.
The male will then guard and fan the eggs until hatching.
The eggs will hatch in 4-5 days whereas the male can
now be removed. More breeding information can be found
here in the articles breeding
section. Aquarium
Care: Not an easy species to keep with excessive
demands on good water quality. Prefers water movement
in the aquarium. Diet: Omnivore.
Vegetable food such as cucumber and other various
foods such as tablet, flake and frozen. Etymology:
The genus name Rineloricaria: meaning rine-rasp,
referring to sharp bristles on sides of snout (of
males); Loricaria, genus in which type species,
R. lima, had originally been described. The
specific name of daraha. A local spelling
of Rio Daraá, Amazonas, Brazil, type locality.
Remarks:
The planned construction of a hydroelectric plant
in São Gabriel da Cachoeira, on the Rio Negro,
poses a threat to the species, which could cause changes
to the environment in part of its distribution area.
However, it is suspected that the possible population
decline resulting from these changes does not represent
a threat to Rineloricaria daraha , due to
its wide distribution in the basin (Least Concern
IUCN 2022).
Common
Name:
None
Synonyms:
None
Family:
Loricariidae
Distribution:
South America:
Brazil. Only known from cataracts of the Rio Daraá
(cachoeira do Aracu, Pacu and Panãpanã),
a tributary to the Rio Negro, in the state of Amazonas,
northwestern Brazil.
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