Rediscovering species: redescription of Bryconops gracilis (Characiformes: Iguanodectidae), an often-misidentified species

ABSTRACT A redescription of Bryconops gracilis is provided, a species poorly known for more than a century. Bryconops gracilis differs from all congeners by having the following combination of features: eight branched pelvic-fin rays, 31-36 anal-fin rays, 15-17 predorsal scales arranged in a regular series, two rows of premaxillary teeth, and 53-60 lateral-line scales. The species was often misidentified as B. alburnoides by sharing an overall elongated body shape, caudal fin yellowish in life, and a high number of lateral-line scales. A diagnosis between B. alburnoides and B. gracilis is provided. The holotype of B. gracilis which for many years had whereabouts unknown, was recovered, examined and illustrated by CT-Scan. Additionally, more detailed information about the type locality, morphology, color pattern (including in living specimens), habitat and distribution pattern of species are provided.

RESUMO A redescrição de Bryconops gracilis, uma espécie pouco conhecida por mais de um século, é fornecida. Bryconops gracilis difere de todas as congêneres por apresentar a seguinte combinação de caracteres: oito raios ramificados na nadadeira pélvica, 31-36 raios ramificados na nadadeira anal, 15-17 escamas pré-dorsais dispostas em uma série regular, duas séries de dentes no pré-maxilar e 53-60 escamas na linha lateral. A espécie foi frequentemente identificada erroneamente como B. alburnoides por compartilhar a forma geral do corpo alongada, nadadeira caudal amarelada em vida e um grande número de escamas na linha lateral. Uma diagnose entre B. alburnoides e B. gracilis é fornecida. O holótipo de B. gracilis que por muitos anos teve paradeiro desconhecido, foi recuperado, examinado e ilustrado através de CT-Scan. Adicionalmente, informações mais detalhadas sobre a localidade tipo, morfologia, padrão de coloração (incluindo em espécimes vivos), habitat e padrão de distribuição da espécie são fornecidas.

The true identity of Bryconops cyrtogaster (Norman), and description of a new species of Bryconops Kner (Characiformes: Iguanodectidae) from the Rio Jari, lower Amazon basin.

Bryconops cyrtogaster, a poorly known species endemic from the Oyapock River at the border between French Guyana and Brazil, is redescribed herein based on examination of available type material, as well as newly collected material. Additionally, a new rheophilic species from the rio Jari rapids, lower Amazon basin, Brazil, is described. The two species belong to the subgenus Creatochanes and are unique among the congeneres for possessing a posteriorly positioned humeral blotch at the level of the sixth and seventh lateral line scales. They differ from each other by meristic and morphometric characters. The list of endemic species in the rio Jari basin is revised.

Redescription of Hypostomus carinatus (Steindachner 1881) (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the rio Amazonas basin in Brazil.

In the midst of the effervescent discussions of climate change and setbacks in national environmental protection mechanisms, the Brazilian Amazon and its ichthyofauna are in the spotlight. Therefore, in this work we redescribe Hypostomus carinatus (Steindachner 1881), a little known medium-sized Amazonian species, providing means for its correct identification and taxonomic stabilization. In this way, based on the analysis of type specimens and recently collected material, H. carinatus is redescribed and its geographical distribution is expanded to the basins of the Branco, Japurá, Juruá, Solimões, Negro, Tapajós, Trombetas and Uatumã rivers. A lectotype of the Plecostomus carinatus is designated herein. Hypostomus carinatus is mainly distinguished from congeners by the presence of four to ten predorsal plates posteriorly surrounding parieto-supraoccipital bone; dark spots on body and fins; by having the dark spots smaller or almost equal to distance among each spot; body carenae armored with odontodes; and compressed head with eyes laterally positioned.

Three new species of Harttia (Loricariidae: Loricariinae) from Serra do Cachimbo, Rio Xingu basin, Pará, Northern Brazil.

Three new species of Harttia from the Rio Xingu basin in the region of Serra do Cachimbo, Pará State, Brazil, are described. Harttia rondoni n. sp., H. panara n. sp. and H. villasboas n. sp. were collected in the Rio Curuá, a tributary of Rio Iriri, Rio Xingu drainage. Harttia rondoni was additionally recorded from the Rio Fresco basin, a tributary of the middle Rio Xingu. The three new species represent the first records for the genus in this drainage. Harttia rondoni differs from H. panara and H. villasboas by having the abdomen partially covered by plates. Harttia panara differs from H. rondoni and H. villasboas by having a larger body depth and interorbital distance. Harttia villasboas differs from H. rondoni and H. panara by having the anterior profile of the head elliptical in dorsal view and a more elongated snout. Additionally, the 26 species of Harttia described are organized in three species group based on the pattern of abdominal covering.

A new species of Aphanotorulus (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the rio Aripuanã basin, Brazil

The cis-Andean genus Aphanotorulus was recently revised and comprises six valid species: A. ammophilus, A. emarginatus, A. gomesi, A. horridus, A. phrixosoma and A. unicolor. Herein, a new species is described from tributaries of the rio Aripuanã basin, in Amazonas and Mato Grosso states, Brazil. The new species is easily distinguished from congeners by its color pattern: caudal fin with upper lobe mostly hyaline with dark spots along rays and membranes, and lower lobe red and without dark spots; and absence of dark spots in the lateral series of mid-ventral plates.(AU)

O gênero cisandino Aphanotorulus foi recentemente revisado e consiste de seis espécies válidas: A. ammophilus, A. emarginatus, A. gomesi, A. horridus, A. phrixosoma e A. unicolor. No presente trabalho, uma nova espécie é descrita dos tributários da bacia do rio Aripuanã, nos estados do Amazonas e Mato Grosso, Brasil. A nova espécie é facilmente distinguida de suas congêneres pelo padrão de coloração: nadadeira caudal com o lobo superior quase totalmente hialino e com pintas escuras ao longo dos raios e membranas, e o lobo inferior vermelho e desprovido de pintas; ausência de manchas escuras na série lateral de placas medianas ventrais.(AU)

A new Centromochlus Kner, 1858 (Siluriformes: Auchenipteridae: Centromochlinae) from the transition between Amazon floodplain and Guiana shield, Brazil

Species of Centromochlus are widely distributed in South America, with records for major basins such as the Amazon and Orinoco, rivers draining the Guiana Shield such as the Essequibo, Courantyne (Corantijn), Coppename, Maroni, and Oyapock, and Brazilian Shield drainages as upper Paraná and São Francisco. In the last four years, three species of Centromochlus have been described, raising the total number of valid species to sixteen. The new species of Centromochlus described herein is diagnosed by having black ground color sharply delimited from a white underside by conspicuous wavy border. The new species is recorded from the Nhamundá, left bank tributary to the lower Amazon that drain from the Brazilian portion of the Guiana Shield. Although apparently similar to some Tatia species (e.g. Tatia musaica , T. carolae and T. melanoleuca ), the new species possess two conditions of the Weberian apparatus otherwise observed only in Centromochlus heckelii and C. existimatus among centromochlin catfishes. The new Centromochlus comprises small catfishes with adults ranging from 48 to 57 mm SL.(AU)

Espécies de Centromochlus têm ampla distribuição pela América do Sul, com registros para as principais bacias como o Amazonas e Orinoco, rios com drenagens no Escudo das Guianas como Essequibo, Corentyne, Copename, Maroni e Oiapoque, e ainda pelas drenagens do Escudo Brasileiro como Alto Paraná e São Francisco. Nos últimos quatro anos foram descritas três espécies de Centromochlus elevando o número de espécies válidas para dezesseis. A nova espécie de Centromochlus aqui descrita é diagnosticada pela presença de dorso escuro abruptamente separado de um ventre branco por uma barra ondulada conspícua. A nova espécie foi descoberta no rio Nhamundá um igarapé de água clara do baixo Amazonas com rede de drenagem a partir da porção brasileira do Escudo das Guianas. Apesar de aparentemente similar a algumas espécies de Tatia (e.g. Tatia musaica , T. carolae e T. melanoleuca ), indivíduos da nova espécie apresentam uma morfologia particular do aparelho de Weber até então reportadas apenas para C. heckelii e C. existimatus , entre os bagres centromoclíneos, e que merecem maiores discussões. O novo Centromochlus inclui pequenos bagres com adultos entre 48 e 57 mm CP.(AU)

Chromosomal polymorphism in two species of Hypancistrus (Siluriformes: Loricariidae): an integrative approach for understanding their biodiversity.

Structural chromosome changes are widely described in different vertebrate groups and generate genetic, phenotypic and behavioral diversity. During the evolution of loricariids, several rearrangements (fissions, fusions, inversions) seem to have occurred. Hypancistrus, tribe Ancistrini, are highly demanded for fishkeeping around the world. In this tribe, the diploid chromosome number 2n = 52 is considered a synapomorphy, and paracentric-type inversions appear to be involved in the chromosomal evolution of the tribe. The present study investigated the karyotypes of H. zebra and H. cf. debilittera using cytogenetic, classical and molecular tools, as well as DNA barcoding. Data reveal that, although diploid number in both species corroborates the proposed synapomorphy for the tribe, there is a complex karyotype dynamics, reflected in the intense chromosomal polymorphism, resulting from rearrangements involving ribosomal regions (5S and 18S rDNA), which are suggested to be paracentric inversions. Besides, DNA barcode confirms reciprocal monophyletism between the species, validating the existence of two species, only. This scenario, coupled with genomic instability caused by exogenous sequences such as Rex-3 retrotransposons and the species' sedentary lifestyle, which helps the fast polymorphism fixation, may reflect different phenotypic color patterns in natural populations, as observed in H. cf. debilittera.

Comparação da eficiência relativa de dois apetrechos de coleta de peixes em praias no baixo rio Purus, Amazonas, Brasil / Comparison of the relative efficiency of two fishing gears in sandy beaches in lower Purus river, Amazonas, Brazil

Despite representing one of the seven most important aquatic habitats in the Amazon, little has been done concerning fish inventories on sandy beaches, especially related to the fishing gear used in these environments. This study aims to compare the relative efficiency of two fishing gears, seine and gill-net, used actively (trawling), on three sandy beaches on the lower reaches of Rio Purus. Seining resulted in a larger number of species and specimens, whereas for total biomass, gill-nets showed larger values, mainly represented by Siluriformes. Low similarity between samples (38%) was due to different catches of each gear: 41 species collected only with seine and 32 only with gill-net. The present study strengthens the importance of using different fishing gears in experimental fisheries as a way to overcome the inherent selectivity of each gear, and thus improving the efficacy of sampling in poorly-known environments.

Apesar das praias serem consideradas um dos sete mais importantes habitats aquáticos da Amazônia, poucos trabalhos foram realizados quanto ao levantamento de sua ictiofauna, principalmente quando utilizados diferentes apetrechos de coleta. Este trabalho teve como objetivo comparar a eficiência relativa de dois apetrechos, rede de cerco e malhadeira, ambos utilizados de forma ativa (arrasto), em três praias localizadas no baixo rio Purus. A rede de cerco apresentou maior número de espécies e indivíduos capturados, no entanto, a malhadeira apresentou maiores valores de biomassa total, representada principalmente por Siluriformes. A baixa similaridade da fauna de peixes capturada (38%) foi devido à exclusividade de espécies coletadas com cada apetrecho, 41 com rede de cerco e 32 com malhadeira. O presente trabalho mostra a importância de se utilizar diferentes apetrechos de coleta como forma de diminuir a seletividade inerente de cada um desses aparelhos, melhorando a efetividade de amostragens em ambientes pouco estudados.

Two new ornamental loricariid catfishes of Baryancistrus from rio Xingu drainage (Siluriformes: Hypostominae)

Two new species of the hypostomine genus Baryancistrus are described from the rio Xingu drainage. Baryancistrus xanthellus is distinguished from all other Baryancistrus species by the presence of yellow spots along the entire body and conspicuous yellow marks on distal tip of dorsal and caudal fins. Baryancistrus chrysolomus is distinguished from its congeners by its uniform dark body coloration and presence of yellow bands on dorsal and caudal fins. Despite the lack of formal description, these species are very popular in the international aquarium trade. We expect that these formal descriptions might contribute to the improvement of Brazilian regulations in the international trade of ornamental loricariids.

Duas espécies novas de hipostomíneos do gênero Baryancistrus são descritas da bacia do rio Xingu. Baryancistrus xanthellus se diferencia de todas as outras espécies de Baryancistrus pela presença de pontos amarelos em todo o corpo e presença de manchas conspícuas amarelas nas pontas das nadadeiras dorsal e caudal. Baryancistrus chrysolomus se distingue de seus congêneres pela sua coloração escura uniforme e presença de uma faixa amarela nas nadadeiras dorsal e caudal. Apesar de não estarem formalmente descritos, esses peixes são muito populares no comércio aquariofilista internacional. Esperamos que essas descrições formais contribuam para melhorar a regulamentação brasileira no comércio internacional de loricariídeos ornamentais.