Taxonomy & naming
Rhinotocinclus loxochelis was described by Roberto E. Reis and Pablo Lehmann A. in 2022, in Neotropical Ichthyology (volume 20, number 2, article e220002), the paper that erected the genus Rhinotocinclus and described five new species within it. The Catalog of Fishes (Eschmeyer, CAS) recognises Rhinotocinclus loxochelis Reis & Lehmann, 2022 as the valid name.
The genus name combines the Greek rhinos (snout) with the genus name Otocinclus, referencing the conspicuous, elegant snout that distinguishes these fishes. The species belongs to subfamily Hypoptopomatinae, the dwarf suckermouth catfishes, within the family Loricariidae.
The specific epithet loxochelis appears to draw on the Greek loxos (oblique, slanting); the full meaning intended by the authors is not given in the cached source and is not invented here.
Morphology
Rhinotocinclus loxochelis is a small loricariid, reaching about 1 in standard length — the largest measured specimen was 1 in SL. It bears the bony dermal armour of the family and the elongate, projecting snout typical of the genus. Diagnostic characters separating it from its congeners are given in the original description (Reis & Lehmann, 2022); beyond the size figure no further morphological detail is reproduced in the cached source, and none is invented here.
No data on sexual dimorphism in this species has been published.
Habitat
The species is recorded from South America — specifically Brazil — where it has been collected from creeks. It is a freshwater, demersal (bottom-associated) fish of tropical waters. No published temperature, pH, hardness, or depth measurements for its habitat are available in the cached source, so none are stated here.
Feeding
No feeding study specific to Rhinotocinclus loxochelis has been published. Hypoptopomatinae are characteristically grazers of algae, biofilm, and fine detritus on submerged surfaces, and the species sits at a low trophic level (approximately 2.7) consistent with that diet. Direct dietary observations for this species are not on record.
Mating
No data on the courtship or mating behaviour of Rhinotocinclus loxochelis has been published.
Breeding
No data on the reproduction, spawning mode, clutch size, or parental care of Rhinotocinclus loxochelis has been published. The species is not known to have been bred in captivity.
In the aquarium
Rhinotocinclus loxochelis is not established in the aquarium hobby, and no documented husbandry exists for it. As a recently described dwarf creek-dwelling Hypoptopomatinae, any keeping would — by analogy with related small suckermouths — call for clean, well-oxygenated water, gentle current, and abundant grazing surfaces, but these are general expectations for the group rather than parameters recorded for this species. No verified aquarium care information is available.
Conservation
Rhinotocinclus loxochelis has not been evaluated by the IUCN Red List. Described only in 2022 and known from a limited collection in Brazilian creeks, its distribution, population size, and any threats are essentially undocumented. No conservation assessment can be made from the available data.