Taxonomy & naming
Zawadzki, Bifi and Mariotto described Araichthys loro in 2016. It belongs to Araichthys, a genus of small armoured catfishes in the Hypoptopomatinae, the otocinclus relatives. Catalog of Fishes lists the name as valid.
Morphology
Size and appearance are not recorded in the sources available to the atlas. The subfamily is made up of small, flattened, algae-grazing armoured catfishes.
Habitat
The type locality is the Rio Papagaio, municipality of Sapezal, Mato Grosso, in the rio Tapajós basin of the Amazon drainage, at 13°33'34"S, 58°24'28"W. This is a clear-water Brazilian Shield river. No other habitat data are recorded.
Feeding
Diet is not recorded. Hypoptopomatines graze biofilm and algae from plants, wood and stone.
Mating
Mating is not described.
Breeding
No breeding record exists.
In the aquarium
It is a recent and little-known arrival in the trade. Treat it as a small, peaceful grazer: a mature, well-oxygenated tank with plenty of biofilm, soft vegetable foods, and no aggressive tankmates. The atlas has no recorded temperature or pH for it.
Conservation
No IUCN assessment is known to the atlas. The species is known from the type area in the rio Tapajós basin.