Pareiorhina cepta Roxo & da Costa

This species is distinguished from its congeners by having small plates covered with odontodes randomly distributed on the abdomen (vs. abdomen completely naked) and by color pattern of caudal-fin completely dark with one hyaline bar (vs. variegated blotches corresponding to approximately 3-4 hyaline bars in P. brachyrhyncha and P. rudolphi and hyaline random spots in P. carrancas. It differs from all congeners, except for P. brachyrhyncha, by presence of a minute lateral cusp in teeth (vs. unicuspid teeth in remaining species); from all congeners, except for P. carrancas, by having ventral surfaces of first pectoral, pelvic and anal-fin rays covered by pointed odontodes (vs. conspicuously spatulate odontodes); from P. carrancas by lacking a ridge on the postdorsal surface of trunk (vs. postdorsal surface of trunk with a low, elongate ridge formed by 10-13 raised median unpaired plates), anterior ends of the premaxillae and dentaries gently sloped inwards (vs. strongly sloped); from P. brachyrhyncha by lacking odontodes at the ventral tip of the snout (vs. tip of snout completely covered by odontodes) (Ref. 92077).

Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7

The species was collected an altitude of about 810-1065 m.a.s.l. The streams narrow (about 3-5 m width) and shallow (about 0.25-1.5 m deep) and the bottom was formed of small to medium-sized rocks, loose stones, gravel and sand. The water in the collection site was clear, cold (16.6°C-19.5°C), highly acidic (pH 2.78-2.87), poorly conductive (µs/cm 0.013-0.014), highly oxygenated (5.91-13.05 mg/l OD) and moderate to fast flowing. Vegetation found at the margins of the stream, which shadows a wide portion of its bed. Associated species captured in the stream includes Astyanax rivularis, Neoplecostomus franciscoensis, Trichomycterus macrotrichopterus and Characidium fasciatum (Ref. 92077).

fisheries:

Pareiorhina cepta is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is native to South America, where it occurs in the São Francisco River basin in the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil. It is known to occur alongside the species Astyanax rivularis, Characidium fasciatum, Neoplecostomus franciscoensis, and Trichomycterus macrotrichopterus. The species reaches 4.4 cm (1.7 in) in standard length.

The streams in which Pareiorhina cepta occurs are characterized by an elevation of 810 to 1065 m (2657 to 3494 ft) above sea level, a width of 3 to 5 m (10 to 16 ft), a depth of 25 to 150 cm (9.8 to 59.1 inches), a temperature of 16.6 to 19.5 °C (61.9 to 67.1 °F), a highly acidic pH of 2.78 to 2.87, a conductivity of 0.013 to 0.014 µS/cm, an oxygen concentration of 5.91 to 13.05 mg/L, clear water, moderate to fast flow, marginal vegetation, and a substrate composed of rocks, gravel, and sand.