Gabriel de Carvalho Deprá

Inventory of the fish fauna from Ivaí River basin, Paraná State, Brazil

We compiled data on fish fauna of the Ivai River basin from recent specialised literature, standardised sampling and records of species deposited in fish collections. There were 118 fish species of eight orders and 29 families. Of these, 100 species are autochthonous (84.8%), 13, allochthonous (11.0%) and five, exotic (4.2%). The main causes for the occurrence of non-native species are escapes from aquaculture, introduction for fishing purposes and the construction of the Itaipu hydroelectric plant. The predominance of small and medium-sized Characiformes and Siluriformes, including 13 species new to science, accounts for approximately 11.0% of all species and 13.0% of all native species. About 10.2% of all species and 12.0% of all native species are endemic to the upper stretch of the Ivai River, isolated by numerous waterfalls in tributary rivers and streams. The Ivai River basin is subjected to various anthropogenic interferences such as pollution, eutrophication, siltation, construction of dams, flood control, fisheries, species introduction and release of fingerlings. These activities raise concerns about biodiversity of Brazilian inland waters especially regarding the fish fauna; the basin of the Ivai River already has species classified in categories of extinction risk: Brycon nattereri and Apareiodon vladii (Vulnerable) and Characidium heirmostigmata and Steindachneridion scriptum (Endangered). The high species richness of native fish, endemism of some, high environmental heterogeneity, high risk of extinction and lack of knowledge of several other species along with the eminent human activities raise the need to enrich the scientific knowledge for future conservation efforts for the studied basin.

Inventory of the ichthyofauna from the Jordão and Areia river basins (Iguaçu drainage, Brazil) reveals greater sharing of species than thought

Recent sampling on fish from the headwaters of the Jordao and Areia rivers, combined with collection databases and specialized literature reports, yielded the first species inventory. Both basins reflect the high endemism rate associated with the Iguacu River. However, four species previously thought to be restricted to the Jordao River basin are now known to also occur in the basin of the Areia River: Astyanax jordanensis Vera Alcaraz, Pavanelli & Bertaco, 2009; Characidium travassosi Melo, Buckup & Oyakawa, 2016; Jenynsia diphyes Lucinda, Ghedotti & Graca, 2006; and Trichomycterus igobi Wosiacki & de Pinna, 2008. This suggests an ancestral connection between the tributaries of the Jordao and Areia rivers, with putative drainage rearrangements resulting from the uplift of the Serra da Esperanca. The endemic fauna of this region is presently threatened by invasive species, the construction of dams, and other human activities.

Widening the geographical distribution of Pimelodus mysteriosus Azpelicueta 1998 (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae) to the upper Paraná River, with diagnosis for syntopic congeners

Pimelodus mysteriosus Azpelicueta 1998, previously known only from the lower Paranaand Paraguay River basins, has been also recorded in the upper ParanaRiver floodplain. The only congeners occurring in syntopy with P. mysteriosus in the upper ParanaRiver basin are P. maculatus and P. ornatus. New diagnostic characters between P. mysteriosus and P. maculatus are provided.

A new colorful species of Geophagus (Teleostei: Cichlidae), endemic to the rio Aripuanã in the Amazon basin of Brazil

Geophagus mirabilis, new species, is endemic to the rio Aripuana drainage upstream from Dardanelos/Andorinhas falls. The new species is distinguished from all other species of the genus by the presence of one to five large black spots arranged longitudinally along the middle of the flank, in addition to the black midlateral spot that is characteristic of species in the genus and by a pattern of iridescent spots and lines on the head in living specimens. It is further distinguished from all congeneric species, except G. camopiensis and G. crocatus, by the presence of seven (vs. eight or more) scale rows in the circumpeduncular series below the lateral line (7 in G. crocatus; 7-9 in G. camopiensis). Including the new species, five cichlids and 11 fish species in total are known only from the upper rio Aripuana, and 15 fish species in total are known only from the rio Aripuana drainage. Geophagus mirabilis, especie nova, e endemica da drenagem do rio Aripuana, a montante das quedas de Dardanelos/ Andorinhas. A especie nova se distingue de todas as outras especies do genero pela presenca de uma a cinco manchas pretas grandes distribuidas longitudinalmente ao longo do meio do flanco, em adicao a mancha preta no meio do flanco caracteristica das especies do genero, e por um padrao de pontos e linhas iridescentes sobre a cabeca em especimes vivos. Alem disso, se distingue de todas as especies congeneres, exceto G. camopiensis e G. crocatus, pela presenca de sete (vs. oito ou mais) series de escamas na serie circumpeduncular abaixo da linha lateral (7 em G. crocatus; 7-9 em G. camopiensis). Com a especie nova existem cinco ciclideos, e ao todo 11 especies de peixe conhecidas somente do alto rio Aripuana, e ao todo 15 especies de peixe conhecidas apenas da bacia do rio Aripuana.

Satanoperca curupira , a new cichlid species from the rio Madeira basin in Brazil (Teleostei: Cichlidae)

Satanoperca curupira, new species, is described from the rio Madeira basin in the State of Rondônia, Brazil. It is distinguished from all congeners by the following combination of characters: 3-7 dark-brown oblique stripes on the lachrymal (vs. 2 well-defined dark-brown stripes, or dark-brown stripes absent) and an irregular pattern of dark-brown stripes on cheek and opercular series (vs. cheek without dark-brown markings or with light-beige rounded spots). According to meristic and color pattern characters, the new species is considered a member of the S. jurupari species group, and is syntopic with S. jurupari, which is widespread in the Amazon basin. The restricted geographical range of the new species is congruent to that observed for some other Satanoperca species.

Molecular phylogeny of Planaltina Böhlke (Characidae: Stevardiinae) and comments on the definition and geographic distribution of the genus, with description of a new species

A molecular phylogeny of Planaltina, including the three previously described species and an undescribed species, is presented. The monophyly of the genus, included in Diapomini, is strongly supported. Its sister group, the remaining Diapomini, includes only species without modified caudal-fin squamation in the present analysis (species of Diapoma with caudal organs were not sampled). Creagrutus is sister to Planaltina plus remaining Diapomini instead of Planaltina being sister to Creagrutus plus Diapomini, as a previous analysis had suggested. Species of Planaltina form two clades: P. britskii plus the new species, with low support (< 50%); and P. myersi plus P. glandipedis, with higher support. Planaltina is rediagnosed from all Characidae based on the morphology of the caudal organ, the absence of a humeral spot and the presence of a complete lateral line. Comments on the caudal-fin squamation of Diapoma and Lepidocharax burnsi, on the type-series of L. burnsi and on the geographic distribution of Planaltina and Lepidocharax species are provided. Finally, a formal description of the aforementioned new species and a novel identification key to Planaltina are presented.

Peixes da planície de inundação do alto rio Paraná e áreas adjacentes: revised, annotated and updated

The book “Peixes da planície de inundação do alto rio Paraná e áreas adjacentes” represents the most cohesive data compilation for the rio Paraná floodplain. However, considering the dynamicity of the taxonomy of freshwater fishes, several new records and taxonomic changes occurred along the past years. Therefore, the results of that publication were revisited, providing an update of the species list, their taxonomic status, records and geographic distribution, and also new keys for genera and species. The species included were those recorded in the rio Paraná basin, from the mouth of the rio Paranapanema to the Itaipu Reservoir, following the general methodology presented in the book. A total of 10 orders, 41 families, 126 genera, and 211 species were registered, with an increase of one order, six families, 14 genera, and 29 species when compared to the book. Additionally, four new genera recently described, five synonymization proposals, 14 new identifications, four new combinations, 12 new species recently described, 34 new records, and nine misidentified species were recorded. These results are associated with the redirection of human and financial resources to that area, which enabled monitoring and intensive exploration of its watercourses; as well as training of taxonomists, and new taxonomic resolutions.

Molecular characterization of Moenkhausia (Pisces: Characiformes) populations with different lateral line developmental levels

The genera Hemigrammus and Moenkhausia have been traditionally diagnosed mainly by the former having lateral line completely pored whereas the latter having a lateral line with a few pored scales. Those features have been used to diagnose species of both genera in the upper Paraná River floodplain. Specimens with the diagnostic features of Moenkhausia bonita, collected in the upper Paraná River floodplain, exhibited different developmental levels of the lateral line, making it difficult to distinguish them from specimens of Hemigrammus sp. We analyzed the gene encoding cytochrome C oxidase I (COI) and intron 1 of the nuclear gene S7 to investigate the genetic similarities between the called Hemigrammus marginatus and M. bonita and to confirm their identities. Molecular sequences of other Moenkhausia species were analyzed for genus delimitation tests. The results reveal genetic similarities of M. bonita specimens with different developmental levels of the lateral line, and also distinguish between M. bonita and Hemigrammus sp. Species delimitation tests revealed that specimens from the upper Paraná River floodplain were M. bonita and were distinct from other Moenkhausia species. The developmental level of the lateral line is not a consistent characteristic that distinguishes between Moenkhausia and Hemigrammus species.