Flávio C. T. Lima

Estrutura e composição da ictiofauna de riachos do rio Paranapanema, Sudeste e Sul do Brasil

Seventeen 100 m long streams stretches, none of an order higher than three, were sampled to both sides of the main channel of Rio Paranapanema in the States of Sao Paulo and Parana, southeastern and southern Brazil. Each stream stretch had its midpoint located with a GPS satellite receiver and had its fish fauna sampled via a standardized environmental data and fish collection methodology (primarily utilizing electrofishing) with the aim of providing the following information about each stream: 1) the taxonomic composition of the fish fauna and the contribution of each species in that stream in terms of both number of individuals and biomass; 2) a photographic documentation of the live coloration of representative speci-mens of each collected species; and 3) the description of each sampled environment, with colored photographic illustra-tions and details of the main biotic and abiotic parameters. Overall 3,683 fishes were collected, belonging to six orders, 16 families, 37 genera, and 52 species, with a total biomass of 16.8 kg. Of the collected species, approximately 36% were Siluriformes, 36% Characiformes, 11% Gymnotiformes, 10% Perciformes, 4% Cyprinodontiformes, and 2% Synbranchiformes. The most abundant species in terms of total number of individuals were Astyanax altiparanae (15.2%) and Astyanax sp. 1 (12.3%); The species with the largest biomasses were Astyanax altiparanae (28%) and Geophagus brasiliensis (13%). In terms of abundance and biomass collected for each family, the Characidae was clearly the predominant family followed by the Loricariidae, Pimelodidae, and Cichlidae. Among the sampled stream stretches, locality 14 with 24 species and locality 13 with five species yielded the highest and lowest richness in terms of species numbers, respectively. This coincides with the values obtained for the Shannon-Wienner index of specific diversity (H´ = 0.99 and 0.32, respectively). The median species richness for all streams stretches was 11. In the species richness estimate by extrapolation for all 17 sampled stream stretches, a value of 69 species was obtained (with a standard error of four) indicating the need for an additional moderate sampling effort to reach the asymptote of the curve. Of the 52 collected species, eight (approximately 15% of the total) are clearly new to science and five other species (approximately 10% of the total) are of indefinite taxonomic status and require further analysis. Three of the captured species are introduced (approximately 6% of the total). Analysis of the trophic and spatial structure of the studied fish fauna indicates that the 10 numerically dominant species in the sampled streams can be grouped into four guilds that are in decreasing order of numeric importance: nektonic omnivores; benthonic invertivores; periphytovores; and benthonic omnivores. An identification key for all the species of fish collected during this study it is provided.

Three new species of Hyphessobrycon (Characiformes: Characidae) from the upper rio Araguaia basin in Brazil

Three new species of Hyphessobrycon (Characiformes: Characidae) are described from the upper rio Araguaia basin. Hyphessobrycon langeanii n. sp. is distinguished from all congeners by the presence of a well-defined, round humeral spot, a reticulate color pattern, a broad, horizontally-elongate caudal-peduncle blotch, and a relatively wide, faint midlateral dark stripe. Hyphessobrycon eilyos n. sp. is distinguished from all congeners by the absence of humeral and caudal spots; by the presence of numerous dark chromatophores on the lateral surface of the body, intensely concentrated on the ventral region from the pelvic-fin origin to the end of the caudal-fin base, dorsal, adipose, and caudal fins with carmine red pigmentation in life; and the presence of 7-11 maxillary teeth. Hyphessobrycon weitzmanorum n. sp. is distinguished from all congeners by the combination of the possession of two humeral spots and a general dark color pattern. These three new species, along with Creagrutus molinus (Characidae), Apareiodon tigrinus (Parodontidae), Aspidoras velites (Callichthyidae), an undescribed member of the Hypoptopomatinae (Loricariidae), Cnesterodon septentrionalis (Poeciliidae), and Simpsonichthys cholopteryx (Rivulidae), all of which are apparently endemic of the upper rio Araguaia, indicate that this area is a previously unrecognized area of endemism.

Salminus franciscanus, a new species from the rio São Francisco basin, Brazil (Ostariophysi: Characiformes: Characidae)

Salminus franciscanus, the large-sized dourado from the rio Sao Francisco basin, Brazil, is described. The new species was actually known ichthyologically since at least Valenciennes (in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1850) but it was never properly identified. Salminus franciscanus can be diagnosed from its congeners by the combination of the presence of an enlarged second tooth in the outer series of the dentary considerably larger than the remaining teeth, the absence of a dark post-orbital stripe, scale counts (68-82 lateral line scales, 11-14 horizontal series of scales between dorsal-fin origin and lateral line, and 6-8 horizontal series of scales between the lateral line and the pelvic-fin insertion), and a developed extension of the middle rays of the caudal fin. The historical taxonomy of the species is discussed.

New Species of Moenkhausia (Characiformes: Characidae) from the Rio Negro of Brazil

Abstract ENGLISH: A new Moenkhausia species is described from the middle rio Negro of Brazil. This species shares with Moenkhausia oligolepis, Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae, and Moenkhausia pyrophthalma a reticulate body coloration and a red pigmentation on the dorsal margin of the eye. It can be distinguished from those species by the presence of a distinctive stripe on the caudal peduncle, a uniform anterior humeral blotch, and meristic and morphometric data. Priocharax ariel, Serrabrycon magoi, Microsternarchus fimbripinnus, and Acestridium martini are recorded for the first time from the middle rio Negro in Brazil. SPANISH: Uma espécie nova de Moenkhausia é descrita do médio rio Negro no Brasil. Esta espécie compartilha com Moenkhausia oligolepis, Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae e Moenkhausia pyrophthalma um padrão de colorido reticulado e a pigmentação vermelha na margem dorsal do olho. Distingui-se destas espécies pela presença de uma faixa perspícua no pedúnculo caudal, uma mancha umeral anterior uniforme e por dados merísticos e morfométricos. Priocharax ariel, Serrabrycon magoi, Microsternarchus fimbripinnus e Acestridium martini são registrados pela primeira vez no médio rio Negro no Brasil.

A new pale-spotted species of Hypostomus Lacépède (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the rio Tocantins and rio Xingu basins in central Brazil

A new species of the genus Hypostomus Lacepede (Siluriformes, Loricariidae) from rio Tocantins and rio Xingu basins in central Brazil, is described. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by a unique combination of pale blotches over a darker background on head, body and fins, and conspicuous keels on head, predorsal region and lateral plates. Comments on the pale-spotted species of Hypostomus are provided.

Astyanax ajuricaba: a new species from the Amazon basin in Brazil (Characiformes: Characidae)

A new Astyanax species is described from several localities in the rio Negro, rio Solimoes and lower rio Tapajos basins, Amazon basin, Brazil. The new species is distinguished from all remaining characids by its unique color pattern consisting of the combination of presence of a conspicuous, narrow dark midlateral stripe, a well-developed vertically-elongated dark humeral spot, and upper caudal-fin lobe and middle caudal-fin rays dark, with a rounded clear ocellated spot present at anterior third of caudal-fin lobe.

A NEW SPECIES OF ARATINGA PARAKEET (PSITTACIFORMES: PSITTACIDAE) FROM BRAZIL, WITH TAXONOMIC REMARKS ON THE ARATINGA SOLSTITIALIS COMPLEX

Abstract We describe a new species of Aratinga—A. pintoi (Sulfur-breasted Parakeet)—from open areas on the northern bank of the lower Amazon River in the state of Pará, Brazil. It was for a long time misidentified as a juvenile of A. solstitialis or a hybrid between that species and A. jandaya. It can be distinguished from other Aratinga species by the combination of the following characters: mantle and wing coverts green, suffused with pale yellow; underparts pale yellow, with pale orange restricted to belly and flanks; and feathers on the underparts with a dark rachis. On the basis of color characters and general morphology, we suggest that this new species should be a member of a group composed of A. solstitialis, A. jandaya, A. auricapillus, and, possibly, Nandayus nenday. A review of taxonomy and distribution of the group is also presented. Uma nova espécie de Aratinga (Psittaciformes: Psittacidae) do Brasil, com comentários sobre a taxonomia do complexo de espécies Aratinga solstitialis

A New Species of Hemigrammus from the Upper Rio Tapajós Basin in Brazil (Teleostei: Characiformes: Characidae)

Abstract Hemigrammus silimoni is described from the Rio Juruena, upper Rio Tapajós basin, Mato Grosso State, Brazil. The new species is distinguished from all congeners, and in fact from the remaining Characidae, by the autapomorphic presence of an ocellus-like blotch on the caudal-fin dorsal lobe. The high level of fish endemicity in the Rio Juruena (upper Rio Tapajós basin) is discussed. Descreve-se Hemigrammus silimoni, uma nova espécie do Rio Juruena, bacia superior do Rio Tapajós, Estado de Mato Grosso, Brasil. A nova espécie apresenta uma mancha elipsóide similar a um ocelo no lobo superior da nadadeira caudal, uma característica autapomórfica que a distingue de todas as demais espécies do gênero e mesmo de outras espécies de Characidae. O alto grau de endemismo de peixes no rio Juruena (bacia do alto rio Tapajós) é discutido.

A New Hyphessobrycon Durbin from the Rio Teles Pires, Rio Tapajós Basin, Mato Grosso State, Brazil (Characiformes: Characidae)

A new species of Hyphessobrycon Durbin is described from the Rio Teles Pires, Rio Tapajós basin, Mato Grosso State, Brazil. The new species can be distinguished from all congeners, except for Hyphessobrycon bifasciatus, H. cyanotaenia, H. heliacus, H. igneus, H. loweae, and H. peugeoti by having the distal border of the anal fin slightly convex to straight in adult males, without a distinct anterior lobe, and with last unbranched ray and first to second branched ray shorter than the subsequent branched rays. The new species can be distinguished from H. bifasciatus, H. cyanotaenia, H. heliacus, H. igneus, H. loweae, and H. peugeoti by the presence of octa- to decacuspid teeth on both dentary and inner premaxillary series (vs. tri- to heptacuspid dentary and premaxillary teeth) and dark chromatophores concentrated on the posterior border of the body scales, forming a reticulated pattern (vs. reticulated pattern absent). Uma espécie nova de Hyphessobrycon Durbin é descrita do rio Teles Pires, bacia do rio Tapajós, Mato Grosso, Brasil. A espécie nova pode ser distinguida de todas as congêneres, exceto de Hyphessobrycon bifasciatus, H. cyanotaenia, H. heliacus, H. igneus, H. loweae e H. peugeoti por possuir a borda distal da nadadeira anal ligeiramente convexa a reta nos machos adultos, sem lobo anterior distinto, e com último raio não ramificado e primeiro a segundo raios ramificados pouco mais curtos do que os raios subsequentes. A espécie nova pode ser distinguida de H. bifasciatus, H. cyanotaenia, H. heliacus, H. igneus, H. loweae e H. peugeoti por apresentar dentes do dentário e da serie interna do pré-maxilar octa- a decacuspidados (vs. dentes do dentário e pré-maxilar tri- a heptacuspidados) e cromatóforos concentrados na borda posterior das escamas do corpo, formando um padrão reticulado (vs. padrão reticulado ausente).

A new Aspidoras (Siluriformes: Callichthyidae) from rio Paraguaçu basin, Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil

During a recent ichthyological survey in Chapada Diamantina, Estado da Bahia, Brazil, a new, very distinctive Aspidoras was discovered in tributaries of the upper rio Paraguacu. The new taxon differs from its congeners mainly in having: a poorlydeveloped pigmentation pattern, restricted to minute scattered blotches on dorsal region of head and body, but grouped in small, irregular blotches along the lateral body plate junction; four or five caudal vertebra, anterior to compound caudal centrum, with neural and haemal spines placed posteriorly, close to post-zygapophyses; and post-zygapophyses of the precaudal vertebrae without dorsal expansions connected with their respective neural spines. The new species shares with Aspidoras velites dorsolateral body plates not touching their counterparts dorsally, and infraorbital bones with reduced flanges that are restricted to the latero-sensory canal. Both of these are considered reductive character states, probably indicating a paedomorphic condition to both species. The new species is also compared to Aspidoras maculosus, a congener which bears the most similar color pattern and is geographically closest to the new species. Durante um estudo recente sobre a ictiofauna da Chapada Diamantina, foi descoberta uma nova especie de Aspidoras, bastante distinta morfologicamente de suas congeneres, em afluentes do alto rio Paraguacu, Estado da Bahia, Brasil. O novo taxon difere das demais especies de Aspidoras principalmente pela pigmentacao pouco desenvolvida, restrita a minusculas maculas espalhadas na regiao dorsal da cabeca e corpo, concentradas em pequenas manchas irregulares ao longo da juncao das placas laterais; por apresentar as quatro a cinco ultimas vertebras caudais anteriores ao centro caudal composto com os espinhos neurais e hemais situados posteriormente junto as pos-zigapofises; e pos-zigapofises das vertebras pre-caudais sem expansoes dorsais unidas ao respectivo espinho neural. Alem disso, a nova especie compartilha com Aspidoras velites a condicao em que as placas dorso-laterais nao contatam suas contrapartes dorsalmente, e os ossos infra-orbitais reduzidos a pouco mais que o canal latero-sensorial, caracteristicas redutivas, provavelmente indicando um estado de carater pedomorfico para estas especies. A nova especie e ainda comparada a Aspidoras maculosus, congenere mais semelhante no padrao de colorido e tambem aquela mais proxima geograficamente.