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Allan James (2) Mitsuhiro Iwamoto (1)

Its specific name is derived from a Latin word, mimulus, diminutive of minus, meaning actor, given with reference to the mimicry in colour pattern with Corydoras diphyes. Description: Vertebrae: 22 - 23. Presence of an iris diverticulum; elevated, enlarged odontodes at posterior supraoccipital tip; lateral series 24-25; lateral line canals only on first 4-6 anterior plates in median series; lateral trunk coloration variable, including either row of 4-6 distinct dark blotches or distinct dark stripe extending from pterotic posterior process to base of caudal fin, or diffuse mixture of those two colour patterns; premaxillary teeth 14-18 (commonly 15-16); mandibular teeth 12-16 (commonly 14); caudal vertebrae 15-17, modally 17; triangular pigment mark at anterior dorsal- fin base occasionally faint or absent. Aquarium care: This is a small group of Loricariids which do well in aquaria and will keep the algae down without harming the plants in the tank. Best to keep in a group with more males for breeding purposes. Breeding: The females will lay eggs on the plants and tank glass after the females have been chased around the tank by the male. Like Corydoras they present a t-position breeding mode. Diet: Omnivore: algae, tablet foods, flake and small frozen foods. Remarks: O. mimulus is found in streams with dark, slightly turbid water, flowing through a landscape of mixed low forest and pasture. Collected at the margin of an open field, but the stream flowed through dense low forest left along its bank and providing shadow. Usually occurs in areas with sandy bottom, bank vegetation entering water or with marginal aquatic plants, dark, clear or slightly turbid water and limited associated fauna. Mimics Corydoras diphyes. Mimicry is unusual because the two species occupy different microhabitats and it is hypothesized to operate with a primarily visual predator moving between the microhabitats, tentatively identified as the cichlid Crenicichla lepidota.

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Loricariidae

South America: Monday River, Paraná River basin, Paraguay. Type locality: Paraguay: Departamento Caaguazú: Río Paraná drainage, small stream (arroyo) at Estancia María Belén, 8 km from Colone Patricio Colman, 25º40'13"S, 55º5'52"W

3.5cm. (1½ins)

22-26°c (71-79°f.)

6.0-7.5.