A new Corydoras Lacépède, 1803 (Siluriformes: Callichthyidae) from the rio São Francisco basin, Brazil

Luiz F C Tencatt,Marcelo R Britto,Héctor S Vera-Alcaraz,Carla S Pavanelli

doi:10.1590/s1679-62252013000200003

Abstract

A new species of Corydoras is described from the rio São Francisco basin in northeastern Brazil, Minas Gerais and Bahia States. The new species is distinguished from most of its congeners by the anterior portion of the infraorbital 1 very large, conspicuously expanded towards the anteroventral margin of the snout and almost entirely covering its lateral margin. Other characters that distinguish the new species are the infraorbital 2 slender on its dorsal tip, contacting only sphenotic and not compound pterotic; and the presence of two laterosensory canals on trunk. A phylogenetic analysis including the new species found it sister-group of C. flaveolus, and both species sister-group of C. paleatus. An identification key to the species of the rio São Francisco basin is also provided

Highlights

Callichthyidae species can be recognized by having two longitudinal series of dermal plates (Reis, 2003)
156 species are included in Corydoras Lacépède, 1803, the most speciose genus of Siluriformes (Reis, 2003; Ferraris, 2007)
Britto (2003) proposed a phylogenetic hypothesis for the Corydoradinae based on 83 characters, by that time the more comprehensive work for the subfamily, establishing among Corydoras a large polytomy with most species grouped in nine clades

Summary

Introduction

Callichthyidae species can be recognized by having two longitudinal series of dermal plates (Reis, 2003). Corydoras representatives are widely distributed throughout South America and show relative economic importance among ornamental fish keepers (Reis, 2003). Britto (2003) proposed a phylogenetic hypothesis for the Corydoradinae based on 83 characters, by that time the more comprehensive work for the subfamily, establishing among Corydoras a large polytomy with most species grouped in nine clades. Thereby, the phylogenetic relationships recovered by Britto (2003) revealed that Corydoras is still poorly known. Britto’s results show Scleromystax as a valid genus and sister-group of Aspidoras, in addition Brochis Cope, 1871 was placed into the synonymy of Corydoras. Examination of material collected in some localities of this basin revealed a new species of Corydoras, which is described

Material and Methods

Results

Literature Cited