A new species of Leporinus Agassiz, 1829 (Characiformes: Anostomidae) from the rio Tocantins, Brazil

Jose L O Birindelli,Heraldo A Britski

doi:10.1590/s1679-62252013000100003

Abstract

A new species of Leporinus is described based on specimens from the lower rio Tocantins, Pará State, Brazil. The new species is diagnosed by having conspicuous dark spots on center of scales on anterolateral portion of body, 33 or 34 scales in lateral line, 16 scales rows around caudal peduncle, four scale rows between dorsal-fin origin and lateral line and four between lateral line and pelvic-fin origin, and four teeth on premaxilla and four on dentary. The new species is similar to Leporinus gomesi, L. granti, and L. nijsseni for having three prominent dark midlateral blotches, smaller blotches formed by dermal pigment, five of which form an interrupted "X" between head and first midlateral blotch, small dark spots formed by epidermal pigment, terminal mouth with four teeth on premaxilla and four on dentary, and relatively few scales on lateral line (less than 36). In addition, new data is provided for the type specimens of Leporinus granti and L. megalepis (=Hypomasticus megalepis),, and L. badueli is confirmed as a junior synonym of L. granti.

Highlights

The genus Leporinus Agassiz, 1829 is one of the most species-rich of the order Characiformes, with approximately 90 valid species (Garavello & Britski, 2003; Eschmeyer & Fricke, 2012)
Leporinus santosi is distinguished from all congeners, except for L. gomesi, L. granti, and L. nijsseni, for having three prominent dark midlateral blotches, smaller blotches formed by dermal pigment, five of which form an interrupted “X” between head and first midlateral blotch, small dark spots formed by epidermal pigment, terminal mouth with four teeth on premaxilla and four on dentary, and relatively few scales on lateral line
The new species is similar to Leporinus granti (Fig. 4), L. gomesi (Fig. 5a), and L. nijsseni (Fig. 5b) for having three prominent dark midlateral blotches, smaller blotches formed by dermal pigment, including five forming an interrupted “X” between the head and the first midlateral blotch, and small dark spots formed by epidermal pigment, terminal mouth with four teeth on the premaxilla and usually four on the dentary, and relatively few scales in the lateral line

Summary

Introduction

The genus Leporinus Agassiz, 1829 is one of the most species-rich of the order Characiformes, with approximately 90 valid species (Garavello & Britski, 2003; Eschmeyer & Fricke, 2012). Eigenmann (1912) described Leporinus granti based on specimens from his collections in Guyana, recognizing it as having many dark blotches over body. Garavello (1990) described two similar species occurring with Leporinus granti: L. nijsseni from Guyana, and L. gomesi from rio Aripuanã. Géry et al (1991) redescribed Leporinus granti and L. nijsseni based on specimens from French Guyana and considered L. badueli Puyo, 1948 a junior synonym of L. granti. The latter opinion was not followed by Garavello & Britski (2003) and Eschmeyer & Fricke (2012)

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Conclusion