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| Megaleporinus gaiero Birindelli, Britski & Ramirez, 2020 |
Abstract
A new species of Megaleporinus is described from the Rio de Contas, a coastal drainage of eastern Brazil, and its phylogenetic relationships are studied using molecular data. The new species is unique among Anostomidae by possessing two exclusive features: an irregular dark longitudinal stripe from supracleithrum to second midlateral blotch and anterior cranial fontanel partially closed. In addition, the new species is diagnosed by having three premaxillary teeth, three dentary teeth, 37 or 38 scales in lateral line, 16 scale rows around caudal peduncle, three dark midlateral blotches on body, and red fins in life. The new species is closely related to M. obtusidens from the São Francisco basin, corroborating previous studies that indicated that the latter represents a species complex as currently defined. The new species exhibits the first rib enlarged in mature males, a feature described for some congeners. The new species is herein considered to be Endangered under the IUCN criteria.
Keywords: anostomoidea, neotropical, phylogeny, systematics, taxonomy
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| Megaleporinus gaiero, new species: (a) paratype, MZUEL 18000, 289.2 mm LS, (b) holotype, MZUSP 112112, 323.0 mm LS and (c) paratype, MZUSP 111130, 311.0 mm LS. All from Rio de Contas, Bahia, and photographed live. Scale bars = 10 mm |
MEGALEPORINUS GAIERO, new species
Etymology: The specific name gaiero is in reference to the vernacular name of the species, “piau-gaiero”, which means a species of Megaleporinus (“piau”) with preference for tree trunks, in allusion to the fact that specimens when caught (especially when using hook and line) tend to hide below submerged tree trunks. In Brazilian Portuguese, “gaio” is a vernacular word for “galho”, meaning tree branches. A noun in apposition.
José L. O. Birindelli, Heraldo A. Britski and Jorge L. Ramirez. 2020. A New endangered Species of Megaleporinus (Characiformes: Anostomidae) from the Rio de Contas Basin, eastern Brazil. Journal of Fish Biology. DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14299
