A new species of armored catfish Parotocinclus (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the rio Parnaíba basin, northeastern, Brazil

Telton P A Ramos,Sergio M Q Lima,Robson T Da Costa Ramos

doi:10.1590/1982-0224-20160153

Telton P A Ramos, Sergio M Q Lima + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-0224-20160153

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Abstract

ABSTRACT Recent taxonomic studies indicated the presence of several undescribed species in the rio Parnaíba basin. Among those, a new species of Parotocinclus endemic of this drainage is herein described. It differs from most of its congeners, including the sympatric P. haroldoi and P. cearensis, by a vestigial or rudimentary adipose fin (vs. conspicuous adipose fin). This character is also present in P. bidentatus and P. muriaensis (both from the rio Paraíba do Sul basin, southeastern Brazil), P. spilurus (rio Jaguaribe basin, northeastern Brazil), P. seridoensis (rio Piranhas-Açu basin, northeastern Brazil), P. halbothi (rios Trombetas and Marowijne basins, northern Brazil and Suriname) and P. dani (from rio Tapajós in Mato Grosso State, Brazil). The new species differs from these latter species mainly by the abdomen extensively covered by broad dermal plates. It also differs from P. haroldoi and P. cearensis by light bands between the snout tip and the nostrils.

Highlights

Parotocinclus Eigenmann & Eigenmann is currently considered a polyphyletic genus (Gauger, Buckup, 2005; Lehmann, 2006; Lehmann et al, 2013; Martins et al, 2014)
Considering its broad geographic distribution in the rio Parnaíba basin, the high number of paratypes, and that its type-locality is in an area relatively well preserved near the Parque Nacional das Nascentes do Rio Parnaíba, a national preservation park, Parotocinclus cabessadecuia does not match any of the extinction risk categories (IUCN) and for this reason we propose that the species should be classified as Least Concern (LC) following the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) categories and criteria (IUCN Standards and Petitions Subcommittee, 2016)
Asides from the reduced to rudimentary adipose fin, Parotocinclus cabessadecuia is distinguishable from other northeastern Brazil species by having the abdomen entirely covered by large plates between the pectoral girdle and the preanal region

Summary

Introduction

Parotocinclus Eigenmann & Eigenmann is currently considered a polyphyletic genus (Gauger, Buckup, 2005; Lehmann, 2006; Lehmann et al, 2013; Martins et al, 2014). The northeastern Brazil includes the highest species richness of the small armored catfishes Parotocinclus, with 12 of 30 nominal species (Ramos et al, 2016; Lehmann et al, 2015; Roxo et al, 2016) Five of these species were described by Garavello (1977, 1988): Parotocinclus cristatus Garavello, P. jimi Garavello and P. minutus Garavello, all from eastern coastal basins of Bahia State (Northeastern Mata Atlântica ecoregion, NMAE), P. cearensis Garavello from rio Acaraú and Choró basins, Ceará State (Mid-Northeastern Caatinga ecoregion, MNCE), and P. haroldoi Garavello from rio Parnaíba basin, Piauí State (Maranhão-Piauí ecoregion, MAPE). Five of these species were described by Garavello (1977, 1988): Parotocinclus cristatus Garavello, P. jimi Garavello and P. minutus Garavello, all from eastern coastal basins of Bahia State (Northeastern Mata Atlântica ecoregion, NMAE), P. cearensis Garavello from rio Acaraú and Choró basins, Ceará State (Mid-Northeastern Caatinga ecoregion, MNCE), and P. haroldoi Garavello from rio Parnaíba basin, Piauí State (Maranhão-Piauí ecoregion, MAPE). Ramos et al (2014), when conducting a broad taxonomic study of the freshwater fishes of the Parnaíba drainage indicated several undescribed species, and recorded P. cearensis, extending its distribution previously known only from the MNCE (Rosa et al, 2003).

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