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Otocinclus mimulus Axenrot & Kullander, 2003

 

Image contributors to this species:

Allan James (2) Mitsuhiro Iwamoto (1)

ScotCat Sources:

Etymology = Genus  Etymology = Species

Other Sources:

Search  Fishbase  Wikipedia  Catalog of Fishes  Global Biodiversity Information Facility  FishNet2  iNaturalist

Relevant Information:

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. Habitat: 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. 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. Reproduction: 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. Etymology: 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.

Common Name:

None

Synonyms:

None

Family:

Loricariidae

Distribution:

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

Size:

3.5cm. (1½ins)

Temp:

22-26°c (71-79°f.)

p.H.

6.0-7.5.

Reference:

Axenrot, T.E. and S.O. Kullander, 2003. Corydoras diphyes (Siluriformes: Callichthyidae) and Otocinclus mimulus (Siluriformes: Loricariidae), two new species of catfishes from Paraguay, a case of mimetic association. Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwat. 14(3):249-272.
Evers, H.-G. & I.Seidel: Mergus, Baensch Catfish Atlas Volume 1, 1st English edn., 2005. Pp.944.
Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2018. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, (06/2018).



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Family: Loricariidae  Back to Ident-A-Cat  Click on Thumbnails

Click for full imageOtocinclus mimulus
Click for full imageOtocinclus mimulus
Click for full imageOtocinclus mimulus

 

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