New species of glass knifefish genus Eigenmannia (Gymnotiformes: Sternopygidae) with comments on the morphology and function of the enlarged cephalic lateral-line canals of Sternopygidae.

ABSTRACT

A new species of Eigenmannia is described from the Rio Paraná (the Grande, Paranapanema and Tietê basins). This new species is distinguished from all congeners by colouration pattern, position of the mouth, relative depth of posterodorsal expansion on infraorbitals 1 + 2, number of teeth, osteological features, number of rows of scales above lateral line (LL) and morphometric data. Comments on the widened cephalic lateral-line canals of Sternopygidae and a dichotomous key to the species of Eigenmannia from the Rio Paraná Basin are provided.