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Definition of otocinclus
otocinclus
/ˌoʊtoʊˈsɪŋkləs/
o · to · cin · clus
Plural:otocincluses
otocinclus Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
11
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A small, herbivorous freshwater catfish native to South American rivers, widely kept by aquarists because it naturally grazes on aquarium algae.
Example
"I added a small school of otocinclus to my planted tank to help keep the glass free of green algae."
2
The taxonomic genus comprising these small armored catfishes within the family Loricariidae.
Example
"Researchers are continually discovering new species of Otocinclus in the remote tributaries of the Amazon basin."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for otocinclus• Rhymes for otocinclus
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the Greek 'oto-' (ear) and the Latin 'cinclus' (latticework), referring to the distinctive porous, grid-like structure of the cranial bones near the fish's ear region.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Otocinclus. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/otocinclus