Otocinclus mimulus

Otocinclus mimulus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Loricariidae
Genus: Otocinclus
Species:
O. mimulus
Binomial name
Otocinclus mimulus

Otocinclus mimulus is a species of armoured catfish found in small tributaries of the Monday river, itself a tributary of the Paraná river.[2]

Otocinclus mimulus is a Batesian mimic of Hoplisoma diphyes. H. diphyes is inedible to many species due to its bony armor and so individual O. mimulus that look more similar to H. diphyes are less likely to be eaten by predators like Saxatilia lepidota. O. mimulus is named for its mimicry of H. diphyes.[3]

References

  1. ^ Vera-Alcaraz, H.S. (2023). "Otocinclus mimulus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2023 e.T176492862A176492914. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T176492862A176492914.en. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  2. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Otocinclus mimulus". FishBase. January 2021 version.
  3. ^ Axenrot, Thomas E.; Sven O. Kullander (2003). "Corydoras diphyes (Siluriformes: Callichthyidae) and Otocinclus mimulus (Siluriformes: Loricariidae), two new species of catfishes from Paraguay, a case of mimetic association". Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters. 14 (3): 249–272.