Manoela M. F. Marinho

A new species of Hyphessobrycon Durbin (Characiformes: Characidae) from the middle rio São Francisco and upper and middle rio Tocantins basins, Brazil, with comments on its biogeographic history

A new species of Hyphessobrycon Durbin is described from tributaries of the rio Grande (rio Sao Francisco basin) draining east to the Serra Geral de Goias, of the rio Sao Domingos (upper rio Tocantins basin) and rio do Sono basins (middle rio Tocantins basin). Hyphessobrycondiastatos can be diagnosed from its congeners by the absence of humeral spot, 15-18 branched anal-fin rays, 1-3 maxillary conical to tricuspid teeth, a relatively well-defined dark caudal-peduncle spot, and elongation of dorsal- and anal-fin rays in mature males. The biogeographical significance of the distribution of the new species is evaluated and discussed.

Hemigrammus ataktos: a new species from the rio Tocantins basin, central Brazil (Characiformes: Characidae)

A new species of Hemigrammus is described from the middle rio Tocantins basin, central Brazil. The new species can be distinguished from all congeners by having a black midlateral stripe on the body extending from the posterior margin of the eye to the median caudal-fin rays. Mature males possess dorsal-, pelvic-, and anal-fin rays elongate, features that also help to recognize the new species. Although the new species is described in Hemigrammus, some specimens present a complete series of pored scales in the lateral line. A discussion about the generic allocation of the new species is presented.

A new species of Moenkhausia Eigenmann (Characiformes: Characidae) from the rio Arinos basin, Brazil

A new species of Moenkhausia from the upper rio Xingu basin is described. Moenkhausia eurystaenia is distinguished from all congeners, except M. heikoi and M. phaeonota, by the presence of a dark, broad longitudinal stripe from the opercle to the end of caudal peduncle. The new species is distinguished from M. heikoi mainly by having 18-21 branched anal-fin rays (vs. 24-26) and the absence of a round blotch at the end of the caudal peduncle (vs. present). Moenkhausia eurystaenia can be distinguished from M. phaeonota mainly by the anterior portion of longitudinal band darker at horizontal septum (vs. darker below horizontal septum), the deep dark pigmentation along horizontal septum extending anteriorly up to humeral region (vs. extending up to vertical through pelvic-fin origin), number of vertebrae 34 (vs. 36-37), and others additional measurements.

Redescription of Astyanax multidens Eigenmann, 1908 (Characiformes: Characidae), a small characid of the Brazilian Amazon

Astyanax multidensis redescribed based on syntypes and additional specimens from the rio Amazonas at Silves, Amazonas State and Obidos, Para State, and the rios Trombetas, Tapajos, Xingu, and Araguaia.Astyanax multidensis distinguished from congeners by the unique combination of five to seven maxillary teeth, 31 to 34 pored lateral-line scales, 20 to 23 branched anal-fin rays, and a dark triangular blotch restricted to the middle caudal-fin rays. Astyanax multidens was collected syntopically with Jupiaba paranatinga in the rio Tapajos basin and with Jupiabacf. essequibensis in the rio Xingu basin, which have paired anteriorly oriented pelvic-fin spines, a antipredatory mechanism. Based on the external morphological similarity betweenAstyanax multidens and the two species ofJupiaba, their sympatric occurrence, and their distinct phylogenetic position, we interpret this a case of Batesian mimicry.

Moenkhausia celibela: a new species from the Amazon basin, Brazil (Characiformes: Characidae)

A new species of Characidae, Moenkhausia celibela, is described from the Rio Amazonas at Santarém, Rio Maraú, several localities in the Rio Tapajós, Rio Curuá-Una, Rio Xingu and Rio Jari, all from the Amazon basin, Brazil. The new species is distinguished from its congeners, except species included in Gérys 1992 Moenkhausia lepidura group, by presenting a dark blotch on the upper caudal-fin lobe, and the lower lobe is hyaline or light grey. Moenkhausia celibela is distinguished from the species of the M. lepidura group by the absence of a humeral spot and the presence of a roughly triangular and dark spot at the caudal-fin base, extending posteriorly along the middle caudal-fin rays, and distinctly separate from the spot on the upper caudal-fin lobe.

A name for the ‘blueberry tetra’, an aquarium trade popular species of Hyphessobrycon Durbin (Characiformes, Characidae), with comments on fish species descriptions lacking accurate type locality

A new species of Hyphessobrycon is described from a tributary of the upper Rio Tapajós, Amazon basin, Mato Grosso, Brazil. Its exuberant colour in life, with blue to purple body and red fins, is appreciated in the aquarium trade. Characters to diagnose the new species from all congeners are the presence of a single humeral blotch, absence of a distinct caudal-peduncle blotch, absence of a well-defined dark mid-lateral stripe on body, the presence of 16-18 branched anal-fin rays, nine branched dorsal-fin rays and six branched pelvic-fin rays. A brief comment on fish species descriptions solely based on aquarium material and its consequence for conservation policies is provided.

Redescription of Astyanax guianensis Eigenmann 1909 (Characiformes: Characidae), a poorly known and widespread fish from the Amazon, Orinoco and Guiana Shield drainages

Astyanax guianensis is redescribed based on the holotype, paratypes, and additional specimens from the rio Essequibo in Guyana, rio Orinoco in Venezuela and from several localities in the Amazon river basin in Brazil, Colombia and Bolivia. Astyanax guianensis is diagnosed by having five to 10 maxillary teeth, 31 to 35 pored lateral-line scales, 21 to 25 branched anal-fin rays, and a dark vertical humeral blotch followed by a clear area and then by a dark longitudinal stripe, ending before the caudal-fin rays. In addition, comments on the importance of revisionary studies on the species of the Characidae are provided.

A new Hemigrammus Gill from upper rio Parana system, Southeastern Brazil (Characiformes: Characidae)

Hemigrammus parana is described from the upper rio Paraná system, in the area of influence of the Ilha Solteira reservoir in states of Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais and São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. The new species differs from all congeners by the combination of the following characters: absence of humeral spot; presence of a roughly triangular or rectangular conspicuous black caudal spot, extending from base to tip of middle caudal-fin rays, its greatest depth at base of caudal-fin rays; and anal-fin rays iii–iv, 18–23.

Reconciling more than 150 years of taxonomic confusion: the true identity of Moenkhausia lepidura , with a key to the species of the M. lepidura group (Characiformes: Characidae)

Moenkhausia lepidura (Kner) is redescribed based on the examination of the type and other specimens from several localities of the Amazon and Orinoco basins. The species is readly diagnosed from congeners by a combination of a dark blotch on the upper caudal-fin lobe, lower lobe hyaline, and by the arrangement of predorsal scales, in which scales of anterior portion of predorsal area are arranged in pairs, followed by a single median row of scales extending to dorsal-fin origin. The analysis of the type material of Gymnotichthys hildae Fernández-Yépez and Knodus calliurus Ahl demonstrated the former is a junior synonym of Moenkhausia lepidura, whereas the latter should be removed from its synonymy. An identification key to the Moenkhausia lepidura-group is provided.

A new species of Moenkhausia Eigenmann (Characiformes: Characidae) from the upper rio Machado at Chapada dos Parecis, rio Madeira basin, Brazil

A new species of Moenkhausia is described from the upper rio Machado at Chapada dos Parecis, rio Madeira basin, Rondonia State, Brazil. Among congeners, the new species is similar to Moenkhausia chlorophthalma, M. cotinho , M. lineomaculata , M. plumbea, and M. petymbuaba by having dark blotches on the anterior portion of the body scales, which are absent in the remaining species of the genus. The new speciesdiffers from aforementioned species by possessing blue eyes in life, 15-18 branched anal-fin rays, and a well-defined, round caudal-peduncle spot that does not reach the upper and lower margins of the caudal peduncle and does not extend to the tip of the middle caudal-fin rays.