Otocinclus putumayensis is named for the Río Putumayo (Içá in Brazil), a major Amazon tributary forming part of the Peru-Colombia border. This region is ecologically rich and is home to an outstanding diversity of fish species, including numerous loricariids. O. putumayensis is a slender, neatly patterned species with a typical lateral stripe and subdued spotting on the dorsal surface.
The Putumayo drainage encompasses both clear-water Andean foothill streams and more turbid lowland river sections. O. putumayensis is likely associated with clearer, shallower habitats rich in aquatic vegetation and submerged wood, where periphyton growth is most productive. The water in its native range is warm, soft, and slightly acidic — conditions consistent with upper Amazon tributaries in general.
For the aquarium, O. putumayensis is an occasional specialty import that appeals to collectors seeking Otocinclus from specific geographic localities. It performs the same function as all Otocinclus — continuous grazing of soft algae and biofilm — and requires the same care: pristine water quality, group housing, and reliable supplemental feeding. Its geographic origin makes it a fitting occupant of a Putumayo or upper Amazon biotope.
