This Otocinclus is of course very distinctive and as such can be identified from all other members of this genus by the vertically elongated blotches spanning from the dorsal midline to the ventral border of flanks, and by a complete lateral line. There seems to be a wide diversity of markings on individual species but they all seem to have the same distinctive blotch shape on the caudal peduncle and the "W" shape band in the caudal fin.

The Otocinclus genus on its own has 15 recognised species and a few others that have still to be described and was revised in 1997 by Schaefer with 13 species as valid. A gap of 55 years had occurred between the description of O. macrospilus Eigenmann & Allen, 1942 and Schaefer’s (1997) revision of Otocinclus, where five new species were described. After 1997, four additional species have already been found. O. tapirape Britto & Moreira, 2002, O. mimulus Axenrot & Kullander, 2003, this months subject, Otocinclus cocama Roberto E. Reis, 2004, and another yet undescribed species from Peru and Colombia.

 

Keeping Otocinclus cocama in the aquarium is not too much of a problem but they do seem to be a bit more sensitive to the captive environment than other members of this genus. You should provide them however, as is with most Otocinclus, a planted tank, as they are found in the wild amongst abundant vegetation. Provide them with vegetable based foods or they will start to damage plants in the aquarium. Substrate can be of small rounded gravel or sand. I personally prefer the latter as their feces (and it can be a lot with a vegetarian diet) sits atop this medium and can be hoovered off when carrying out your regular water changes.

Acknowledgment: Roberto E. Reis for permission to reference his paper.