Poor taxonomic sampling undermines nomenclatural stability: A reply to Roxo et al. (2019).

A recent study based on genomic data by Roxo et al. (2019) provided a phylogeny of the Loricariidae, the largest catfish family and second largest Neotropical fish family with approximately 1,000 species. The study represents a valuable and innovative contribution for understanding higher-level relationships within the family. The phylogenetic tree inferred by Roxo et al. (2019) thoroughly corroborates the monophyly and relationships of most currently accepted subfamilies of Loricariidae, based on a fair taxon sampling (nearly 14% of the species in the family) representing most genera of each but one of the subfamilies, the Lithogeninae, the sister-group of the remaining members of the family (Pereira & Reis, 2017; Reis et al., 2017). In addition to a hypothesis of relationships, Roxo et al. (2019) also proposed a series of lower-level taxonomic changes, which are deemed premature considering that the taxonomic sampling of the study targeted higher-level clades, and go against one of the pillars of biological classification: nomenclatural stability (e.g., Heterick & Majer, 2018; Beninger & Backeljau, 2019). Here we (1) discuss implications of inadequate taxonomic sampling as a basis for changes in classification of species; (2) explain why the taxonomic sampling design of Roxo et al. (2019) is inadequate for the proposed nomenclatural changes; and (3) advocate that changes to classifications must be grounded on phylogenies with dense sampling of taxa at the relevant level.

A new species of Curculionichthys (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the north edge of the Brazilian Shield, lower Amazon basin

A new species of Curculionichthys is described from the rio Curuá-Una basin, in the northern edge of the Brazilian Shield, State of Pará, Brazil. The new species is diagnosed from congeners by possessing a single rostral plate, by having darkened tooth-crowns, and by a series of morphometric and meristic data. A close examination of the species of Curculionichthys revealed the presence of hyperthrophied odontodes on both dorsal and ventral margins of the snout tip, which are illustrated by electronic microscopy. A discussion is provided on possible phylogenetic relationships of the new taxon. The new species is provisionally accessed as Least Concern (not threatened).(AU)

Uma nova espécie de Curculionichthys é descrita da bacia do rio Curuá-Una, na borda norte do Escudo Brasileiro, Estado do Pará, Brasil. A nova espécie é diagnosticada de seus congêneres por possuir uma placa rostral única, a coroa dos dentes escurecida e por uma séria de dados morfométricos e merísticos. Um exame detalhado das espécies de Curculionichthys revelou a presença de odontódeos hipertrofiados nas margens dorsal e ventral da ponta do focinho, que são ilustrados por microscopia eletrônica. Uma discussão é apresentada sobre as possíveis relações filogenéticas do novo táxon. A nova espécie é provisoriamente categorizada como Menos Preocupante (não ameaçada).(AU)

A new species of Otothyropsis (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the upper Río Paraná basin, Paraguay, with a discussion of the limits between Otothyropsis and Hisonotus.

Otothyropsis dialeukos is described from Itá creek, tributary to the upper Río Paraná basin, Paraguay. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by having a unique caudal-fin coloration pattern composed of a brown to almost black background with roundish hyaline blotches in the middle of the outermost branched rays and a hyaline posterior border interrupted in middle rays; abdomen entirely covered by enlarged plates, without naked areas; longer pectoral- and dorsal-fin spines; absence of a raised crest of enlarged odontodes on the posterior portion of the parieto-supraoccipital, and other morphometric and meristic features. Morphological traits and geographic distributions of all species of Otothyropsis and Hisonotus are analyzed and a discussion on the limits between those genera is presented.

Miniature catfishes of the genus Gelanoglanis (Siluriformes: Auchenipteridae): monophyly and the description of a new species from the upper rio Tapajós basin, Brazil

Previously proposed synapomorphies for the genus Gelanoglanis of the catfish family Auchenipteridae are evaluated and four additional features involving the relationship between the mesethmoid and premaxilla, the very fleshy anterior portion of the snout, the lack of ossification of the second through fourth infraorbitals, and the incomplete poring of the lateral line are hypothesized as synapomorphic for the members of the genus. A new species of Gelanoglanis is described based on a series of specimens collected in the rio Teles Pires, a tributary of the rio Tapajós in the southern reaches of the Amazon basin. The new species demonstrates a number of features unusual within Gelanoglanis including a fontanel bordered by the frontals, a particularly elongate gonopodium in mature males, reductions in the dentition on the premaxilla, and a shorter posterior extension of the maxilla inside the maxillary barbel. The new species is a miniature as evidenced both by its body size and the reductions of various ossifications of the head, the number of fin rays and of the laterosensory canal system on the head and body. Sinapomorfias propostas previamente para o gênero Gelanoglanis da família Auchenipteridae são avaliadas e quatro características adicionais que envolvem a relação entre o mesetmóide e a pré-maxila, a porção anterior do focinho carnosa, a perda de ossificação do segundo ao quarto infraorbital e linha lateral incompleta são hipotetizadas como sinapomórficas para os membros do gênero. Uma espécie nova de Gelanoglanis é descrita com base em uma série de exemplares coletados no rio Teles Pires, um tributário do rio Tapajós na porção sul da bacia Amazônica. A espécie nova possui várias características incomuns dentro de Gelanoglanis, incluindo uma fontanela bordeada pelos frontais, um gonopódio particularmente longo em machos maduros, redução da dentição na premaxila, e extensão posterior da maxila mais curta dentro do barbilhão maxilar. A espécie nova é uma miniatura, como evidenciado não apenas pelo tamanho reduzido do corpo, como também pela redução da ossificação da cabeça, do número de raios e do sistema de canais látero-sensoriais da cabeça e do tronco.

New species of the catfish genus Tatia (Siluriformes: Auchenipteridae) from the rio Teles Pires, upper rio Tapajós basin, Brazil

Analysis of specimens of the auchenipterid catfish genus Tatia collected in the rio Teles Pires, a tributary of the rio Tapajós, along the border between the states of Pará and Mato Grosso, Brazil, revealed it to be an undescribed species. This new species is distinguished from all congeners with the exception of T. carolae and T. musaica by the intense, clearly demarcated, dark coloration on the dorsal and to varying degrees lateral and sometimes ventrolateral portions of the body versus the very lightly colored regions which are translucent in life on the remainder of the body. Various details of head, body and dorsal and caudal-fin pigmentation along with meristic and morphometric features distinguish the new species from T. carolae and T. musaica. The new species provides further evidence that the upper and middle rio Tapajós is a region of ichthyofaunal endemism.

A análise de espécimes do bagre auquenipterídeo do gênero Tatia, provenientes do rio Teles Pires, um tributário do rio Tapajós, na divisa entre os estados do Pará e Mato Grosso, Brasil, revelou se tratar de uma espécie ainda não descrita. Esta espécie nova distingue-se de seus congêneres, com exceção de T. carolae e T. musaica, por sua intensa e distintamente demarcada, coloração escura sobre o dorso a variados graus na porção lateral e algumas vezes ventro-lateral do corpo em contraste com regiões de coloração muito clara, a qual é translúcida em vida, no restante do corpo. Vários detalhes da pigmentação da cabeça, corpo, e nadadeira caudal e dorsal juntamente com características merísticas e morfométricas distinguem a espécie nova de T. carolae e T. musaica. A espécie nova fornece evidência adicional de que a porção alta e média da bacia do rio Tapajós é uma região de endemismo da ictiofauna.

Two new species of cascudinhos of the genus Otothyropsis (Siluriformes: Hypoptopomatinae) from the rio Paraná basin, Brazil.

Otothyropsis polyodon, sp. n., and O. biamnicus, sp. n., two new species of loricariid catfishes are described from the rio Paraná basin. Otothyropsis biamnicus and O. polyodon differ from two other Otothyropsis by having a longer caudal peduncle, middle series of lateral plates complete and with higher number of plates, and the anterior margin of the mesethmoid not covered by median rostral plate ventrally. The new species differ from each other in that O. polyodon have a longer pectoral-fin spine and a greater number of premaxillary and dentary teeth. Otothyropsis polyodon was collected in the rio Verde, tributary to the upper rio Paraná basin, and O. biamnicus is found in both the rio Iguaçu and rio Tibagi basins. A key for the species of Otothyropsis is presented and their relationships and geographical distributions are discussed.

Microlepidogaster arachas, a new species of hypoptopomatine catfish (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the upper rio Paraná basin, Brazil.

Microlepidogaster arachas Martins, Calegari & Langeani, sp. nov., a new Hypoptopomatinae, is described from the upper rio Paraná basin. The new species is distinguished from M. longicolla and M. dimorpha by having the anterior portion of the compound supraneural plus first dorsal-fin proximal radial contacting the neural spine of the ninth vertebra. The new species differs from M. perforatus by having 18-29 dentary teeth; median series of lateral plates complete, reaching caudal-peduncle end, and continuous lateral line; and 20-24 mid-dorsal plates. Microlepidogaster arachas is further distinguished from its congeners by several other osteological features.

A new species of Otothyropsis (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the rio Paraguay basin, Paraguay

Otothyropsis piribebuy, new species, is described from the río Piribebuy, a tributary to the río Paraguay basin, Cordillera, Paraguay. The new species is distinguished from O. marapoama mainly by having a continuous mid-dorsal series of 17-18 lateral plates, a robust levator crest in the hyomandibula, naked areas in the abdomen, an unpigmented circular blotch on the median portion of the lower lobe, and by several features related to sexual dimorphism. In addition, Otothyropsis is re-diagnosed and its phylogenetic relationships are discussed based on its present diversity.

Otothyropsis piribebuy, espécie nueva, es descrita del río Piribebuy, cuenca del río Paraguay, Departamento de Cordillera, en Paraguay. La espécie nueva es diferenciada de O. marapoama principalmente por presentar una serie continua de 17 a 18 placas laterales médio-dorsales, cresta levator robustaen la hiomandíbula, abdomen con áreas desnudas, ausencia de pigmentación en la región media del lóbulo inferior con formato circular, y por la presencia de diversas características de dimorfismo sexual. Adicionalmente, es presentada una rediagnosis para Otothyropsis, discutida sus relaciones filogenéticas y su actual diversidad.

A new species of Microlepidogaster (Siluriformes: Loricariidae: Hypoptopomatinae) from the upper rio Paraná basin, Brazil

Microlepidogaster longicolla, new species, is described from the rio São João of the upper rio Paraná basin near Brasília, in central Brazil. The new species differs from M. perforatus, the only other species in this genus, by having a continuous lateral line, median lateral plate series reaching, rather than falling short of, the end of the caudal peduncle, a shorter pectoral-fin spine (13.4-16.2 vs. 18.2-21.0 percent standard length), a smaller interorbital distance (38.9-43.1 vs. 47.7-53.3 percent head length), and more numerous dentary teeth (16-29 vs. 12-15), in addition to several osteological features. Microlepidogaster longicolla shows a remarkable suite of secondary sexually dimorphic characters, involving the presence of a conical urogenital papilla in males, the presence of a fleshy flap along the dorsal margin of first thickened pelvic-fin ray of males, longer pelvic fin in males, and a more strongly arched first pelvic-fin ray in females.

Microlepidogaster longicolla, espécie nova, é descrita do rio São João da bacia superior do rio Paraná próximo a Brasília, no Brasil central. A espécie nova difere de M. perforatus, a única outra espécie do gênero, por ter linha lateral contínua, série média de placas laterais chegando até o final do pedúnculo caudal, menor espinho da nadadeira peitoral (13,4-16,2 vs. 18,2-21,0 por cento do comprimento padrão), menor distância interorbital (38,9-43,1 vs. 47,7-53,3 por cento do comprimento da cabeça), e mais dentes no dentário (16-29 vs. 12-15), além de várias características osteológicas. Microlepidogaster longicolla possui um marcado dimorfismo sexual secundário, envolvendo a presença de papila urogenital cônica em machos, a presença de uma aba carnosa ao longo da margem dorsal do primeiro raio engrossado da nadadeira pélvica em machos, a nadadeira pélvica mais longa dos machos e o primeiro raio da nadadeira pélvica mais fortemente curvado nas fêmeas.