Carl J. Ferraris

Amolops bellulus: A New Species of Stream-Breeding Frog from Western Yunnan, China (Anura: Ranidae)

Abstract We describe a new species of stream-breeding frog of the genus Amolops, Amolops bellulus, from the mountainous region of Lushui County, Yunnan Province, China, near the boundary between Yunnan and Myanmar. This species differs from all its congeners in a combination of morphological characteristics including the absence of a circummarginal groove at the tip of first finger, lack of a supratympanic fold, a white band along the upper jaw extending to shoulder, a black band starting from tip of snout along upper loreal region and extending to anterior flank of body, absence of a vocal sac, tympanum distinct and feebly concave, and the presence of vomerine teeth.

Two New Species of the Catfish Genus Tatia (Siluriformes: Auchenipteridae) from the Guiana Shield and a Reevaluation of the Limits of the Genus

Analysis of samples of the auchenipterid catfish genus Tatia collected during a recent ichthyological survey in the Cuyuni River basin in Guyana revealed them to be an undescribed species. Comparative studies associated with the evaluation of that new species demonstrated that a sample of the genus from a right bank tributary of the Río Orinoco in Venezuela, also on the Guiana Shield, represents a second species unknown to science. The placement of Tatia musaica, previously considered incertae sedis in the Centromochlinae, is evaluated and the species is reassigned to Tatia.

A New Genus of African Loach Catfish (Siluriformes: Amphiliidae) from the Congo River Basin, the Sister-Group to All Other Genera of the Doumeinae, with the Description of Two New Species

Abstract Congo River basin catfishes previously identified as Doumea alula (Amphiliidae, Doumeinae) were found to include three species that belong not to the genus Doumea but are, instead, the sister-group to a clade formed by all remaining Doumeinae. The species are assigned to a new genus, Congoglanis. Characters delimiting the Doumeinae and the clade consisting of all members of the subfamily except Congoglanis are detailed. Congoglanis alula is distributed throughout much of the Congo River basin; C. inga, new species, is known only from the lower Congo River in the vicinity of Inga Rapids; and C. sagitta, new species, occurs in the Lualaba River basin of Zambia in the southeastern portion of the Congo River system.

New species of Cetopsidium (Siluriformes: Cetopsidae: Cetopsinae) from the upper rio Branco system in Guyana

Cetopsidium soniae, new species, is described from the Takutu River basin of southwestern Guyana, within the upper portions of the rio Branco of the Amazon basin. The new species differs from its congeners in details of pigmentation, the length of the pelvic fin, the form of the first rays of the dorsal and pectoral fins in mature males, the relative alignment of the dorsal and ventral profiles of the postdorsal portion of the body, the position of the anus, and the depth of the body. DNA barcodes were generated for the holotype and paratype. An examination of other samples of Cetopsidium from the rio Branco system extends the range of C. pemon into the Ireng River system of Guyana.

Neotropical catfish diversity: an historical perspective

This issue of Neotropical Ichthyology is a collaborative effort between the Sociedade Brasileira de Ictiologia (SBI) and the All Catfish Species Inventory (ACSI) to bring to print reports of the discovery of new species of Neotropical catfishes. Herein, 28 new catfish species and one genus are described, and four of the included papers are generic revisions. More than 30 authors contributed to the 19 papers, and many of these studies were the result of research or collecting efforts that were supported by ACSI. The All Catfish Species Inventory was initiated in 2003 with its primary goal being to inventory and describe the global diversity of catfishes, within a five-year period. The Inventory has received generous financial support from the U. S. National Science Foundation (DEB 0315963) as part of its Planetary Biodiversity Initiative. This support has allowed its investigators to conduct research and undertake collecting expeditions in poorly-explored parts of the world and to support the field work and research of a large number of catfish taxonomists throughout the world. Additional information on the goals of the ACSI, and the results to date, can be found on its web site

Entomocorus melaphareus, a new species of auchenipterid catfish (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes) from the lower and middle reaches of the rio Amazonas

A new species of auchenipterid catfish, Entomocorus melaphareus, is described. The new species is readily distinguished from its two congeners, Entomocorus benjamini Eigenmann, 1917, and E. gameroi Mago Leccia, 1983, by having darkly pigmented, rather than hyaline, pectoral and pelvic fins. Entomocorus melaphareus is known from the margins of the lower and middle rio Amazonas, and is the only species of the genus known from the main channel of that river.

A New Genus and Species of Pimelodid Catfish from the Río Negro and Río Orinoco Drainages of Venezuela (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae)@@@A New Genus and Species of Pimelodid Catfish from the Rio Negro and Rio Orinoco Drainages of Venezuela (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae)

En este trabajo se describe a Gladioglanis machadoi nuevo genero y nueva especie, que se encuentra en las cuencas de los rios Orinoco y Negro en Venezuela. Este nuevo genero difiere de los restantes pimel6didos por la posesi6n de una espina pectoral masiva, fuertemente aserrada, una aleta adiposa larga que es confluente cor. la caudal, y un sistema de canales y poros de la linea lateral ausentes de toto el cuerpo, excepto de la parte anterior y la cabeza. Gladioglanis machadoi es uno de los bagres mas pequefios que se conoce entre los miembros de la familia Pimelodidae.

New Species of Congoglanis (Siluriformes: Amphiliidae) from the Southern Congo River Basin

A new species of catfish of the subfamily Doumeinae, of the African family Amphiliidae, was discovered from the Kasai River system in northeastern Angola and given the name Congoglanis howesi. The new species exhibits a combination of proportional body measurements that readily distinguishes it from all congeners. This brings to four the number of species of Congoglanis, all of which are endemic to the Congo River basin.

A New Species of Pseudocetopsis from the Río Negro Drainage of Venezuela (Siluriformes: Cetopsidae)@@@A New Species of Pseudocetopsis from the Rio Negro Drainage of Venezuela (Siluriformes: Cetopsidae)

-. 1856b. Uebersicht der Gymnotidae. Archiv ffir Naturgeschichte. 22(1):78-87. LEVITON, A. E., R. W. GIBBS, E. HEAL AND C. E. DAWSON. 1985. Standards in herpetology and ichthyology: part I. Standard symbolic codes for institutional resource collections in herpetology and ichthyology. Copeia 1985:802-832. MAGO-LECCIA, F. 1978. Los Peces de la familia Sternopygidae de Venezuela. Acta Cientifica Venezolana 29(1):1-89. REGAN, C. T. 1914. Fishes from the Condoto River, Columbia, collected by Dr. H. G. F. Spurrell. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Lond. 14:31-33. SCHULTZ, L. P. 1944. Two new species of fishes (Gymnotidae, Loricariidae) from Caripito, Venezuela. Zoologica 29(1):39-44. *. 1949. A further contribution to the ichthyology of Venezuela. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. 99(3235): 1-211.

In Memoriam: Richard Peter Vari (August 24, 1949-January 15, 2016)

D URING his long and storied professional career, RICHARD PETER VARI (Fig. 1) established himself as one of the world’s foremost systematic ichthyologists, mentored dozens of junior scientists, devoted countless hours to professional service, developed a globe-spanning network of professional collaborations, and maintained a deep and consistent commitment to his loving family and friends. We count ourselves fortunate to have been among those who knew Rich best. Though we were among his longest collaborators, colleagues, and friends, all in our profession were enriched by his presence, and we are diminished in the wake of his early passing. Herein, we highlight the lasting impact of his scholarship, service, and character, and preserve memories of Rich’s joyous and collegial spirit for future generations.