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Rhinotocinclus collinsae (Schmidt & Ferraris, 1985)

Image contributors to this species:

Reis & Lehmann 2022 (3)

ScotCat Sources:

Other Sources:

Relevant Information:

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). Habitat: The type-locality of R. collinsae was originally described as “Guyana, Essequibo Province, tributary to Takutu River about 2 mi from Mazarahally Takutu lumber camp in Takutu Mountains, approx. 06o15’N 59o05’W, the type specimens being collected by Robert E. Schmidt and Antonios Pappantoniou on 17 August 1983. Despite the approximate coordinates provided suggest the locality is in the lower Mazaruni River, the Takutu River is a well know tributary to the upper Branco of the Amazon basin. Trying to solve this apparent inconsistency, we found a collecting locality of Apistogramma ortmanni at the AMNH collected by the same collector in 1983 (AMNH 72979; field station RES-83-16) that reads: “Little Takutu River and tributaries, Mazarahally Takutu lumber camp, west shore Mazaruni River”. Despite we could not locate this site precisely on a map, it names the river as “Little Takutu”, which differentiates from the Branco tributary Takutu River, and undoubtedly sets the locality in the lower Mazaruni basin. For this reason, the original type-locality of Rhinotocinclus collinsae is herein corrected to Little Takutu River (Reis & Lehmann 2022). Etymology: The genus name 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 name collinsae: Dr Margaret James Strickland Collins (1922–1996) was an African-American biologist, zoologist and entomologist who specialised in the study of termites. Further Remarks: Most online searches at the moment (2022) will still give you the old genus name of Parotocinclus collinsae.

Common Name:

None

Synonyms:

Parotocinclus collinsae

Family:

Loricariidae

Distribution:

Soth America: Occurs in the Essequibo River basin, including the Potaro and Mazaruni rivers, in the regions of Cuyuni-Mazarui and Potaro-Siparuni of Guyana. Type Locality: Little Takutu River.

Size:

5.0cm. (2ins)

Temp:

23-26°c (73-79°f.)

p.H.

6.5-7.2.

IUCN Red List

Parotocinclus (Rhinotocinclus) collinsae is known from tributaries in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni river system, and from the Kuribrong River, Potaro River at the rapids region, and Siparuni River, from the Potaro-Siparuni river system, all in the drainage of Essequibo basin, in Guyana. The extent of occurrence (EOO) is estimated at 21,294 km2, and the area of occupancy (AOO) at 9,820 km2. There are reports of diffuse impacts by mining activities along the upper Mazaruni River, lower Cuyuni River near to the Essequibo, and Kuribrong River. However, the species is widely distributed in the Essequibo River basin, and likely to also occur in similar habitats nearby. The local impacts of small gold mines operations in these rivers are therefore not predicted to be severe enough to threaten the persistence of the species in perpetuity. Thus, Parotocinclus (Rhinotocinclus) collinsae is accessed as Least Concern (LC). However, it is strongly recommended that a long-term monitoring program is established in these areas to continually assess the impacts of the mines to determine whether fish population remain stable or change over time since Parotocinclus (Rhinotocinclus) collinsae is a rheophilic species that can be affected by turbid water caused by mining activities (IUCN 2022).

Reference:

Burgess, W.E., 1989. An atlas of freshwater and marine catfishes. A preliminary survey of the Siluriformes. T.F.H. Publications, Inc., Neptune City, New Jersey (USA). 784 p.
Calegari, B.B. 2022. Parotocinclus collinsae. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022.
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.

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

Rhinotocinclus collinsae
Female, creek tributary to Little Takutu River, Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Guyana

Rhinotocinclus collinsae
Dorsal view-Female, creek tributary to Little Takutu River, Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Guyana.

Rhinotocinclus collinsae
Ventral view-Female, creek tributary to Little Takutu River, Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Guyana.

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