Pareiorhina rudolphi Gosline 1947

Pareiorhina is a small loricariid that lacks an adipose fin.  Color is dark brown with a slight mottling or five dorsal saddles, the first at the origin of the dorsal fin, the second just posterior to the dorsal fin, the third on the middle of the caudal peduncle, the fourth at the posterior end of the caudal peduncle, and the fifth on the caudal fin near its base.  Abdomen mostly white with a few small, scattered melanophores posteriorly and near the gills, the caudal peduncle is brown but lighter than the sides, and the fins are spotted or clear.  Abdomen naked, but parts of the coracoid strut may be exposed and support odontodes.  Pterotic-supracleithrum bordered posteriorly by a section with many small plates (as in some Rhinelepini).  Caudal fin slightly emarginate.  Four or more predorsal plates.  Three rows of plates on the caudal peduncle.  Postdorsal plates in the dorsal row form a keel dorsolaterally so that there appears to be a furrow between the dorsal and caudal fins.  Dorsal fin is short.

Pareiorhina differs from Upsilodus, Delturus, and all other Neoplecostominae by the lack of an adipose fin and a partially exposed coracoid ventrally.  Appears similar to some Pogonopomoides and Rhinelepis (particularly juveniles), sharing the numerous small plates behind the head, loss of the adipose fin, and an exposed coracoid.  Differs from Rhinelepis by having small (vs. very large) gill openings and a large, ventrally deflected canal plate (vs. two small canal plates).  Differs from Pogonopomoides by having a small, square dorsal fin spinelet (vs. large and triangular) and only three (vs. 5) rows of plates on the caudal peduncle.  Pareiorhina differs from Hypoptopomatinae by lacking large plates on the abdomen and/or complete or nearly complete exposure of the pectoral girdle, from Hypostominae by having a small, rectangular dorsal fin spinelet (vs. large and triangular) - and from hypostomines with an unexposed spinelet by the lack of evertible cheek odontodes, and from Loricariinae by having an oval (vs. rectangular and compressed) cross-section of the caudal peduncle.