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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 hera was originally described as Curculionichthys hera, and accordingly was compared to other species of Curculionichthtys. Remarkably, the authors distinguished the new species from congeners, except C. jumaorum (originally described as Hisonotus) and C. karipuna Silva, Roxo, Melo & Oliveira, 2016, by possessing a single rostral plate (vs. paired rostral plates); and except C. jumaorum and C. sabaji Roxo, Silva, Ochoa & Oliveira, 2015, by having darkened tooth-crowns (vs. hyaline to light yellow tipped teeth). As demonstrated in the present study, both C. hera and H. jumaorum, belong to Rhinotocinclus and the single rostral plate and brown tooth crown are typical of its species. Rhinotocinclus hera was tentatively categorized as Least Concern (LC) by Gamarra et al., (2019) in the original description (Reis & Lehmann 2022). Etymology: Rhinotocinclus masc., from the Greek (Rhinos), beak, snout and Otocinclus, a genus of Hypoptopomatinae, in allusion to the conspicuous and elegant snout of most of its species. The specific epithet hera from the Latin hera, meaning mistress of the house, lady, or queen, in allusion to the larger size of the females relative to males. A noun in apposition. Remarks: Most online searches at the moment (2022) will still give you the old genus name of Curculionichthys hera.

None

Curculionichthys hera

Loricariidae

South America: Occurs in creeks tributary to the Rio Curuá-Una, a small river draining to the Amazon immediately east of the town of Santarém, Pará State, Brazil. Type locality: Igarapé do Onça, tributary to Rio Curuá-Una on road BR-163 between Belterra and Rurópolis, Belterra, Pará, Brazil, 03º33’35.3”S 54°52’09.2”W, elevation 80 m asl.

2.5cm. (1ins)

24-27°c (75-81°f.)

5.5-6.5.

Gamarra, Suelen P., Calegari, Bárbara B., Reis, Roberto E. (2019): A new species of Curculionichthys (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the north edge of the Brazilian Shield, lower Amazon basin. Neotropical Ichthyology.
Global Biodiversity Information Facility
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.