A new species of rheophilic armored catfish of Rineloricaria (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the Vaupés River, Amazonas basin, Colombia.

A new rheophilic species of the genus Rineloricaria is described for the Amazon basin in Colombia. Rineloricaria cachivera n. sp. differs from its congeners by having anterior to the first predorsal plate, an inconspicuous saddle-like mark; the presence of dark, diffuse blotches, present as unified dark coloration along most of the dorsal portion of the head, without bands or spots on the head; a long snout that occupies more than half the HL, between 58.0%-66.3% HL; a naked portion on the cleithral area from the border of lower lip reaching origin of pectoral fin; and by having five series of lateral plates in longitudinal rows below the dorsal fin. The new species is morphologically similar to R. daraha, however, it can be distinguished by the presence of six branched pectoral fin rays (vs. seven) and the lower lip surface with short thick papillae (vs. long finger papillae). An identification key to the Rineloricaria species of the Amazon River basin in Colombia is provided. The new species is herein categorized as Least Concern (LC), following the IUCN criteria. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.