Abstract
Rineloricaria daraha, new species, is described from the rio Daraá, tributary of rio Negro, northwestern Amazonas State, Brazil. The new species is diagnosed by having seven branched pectoral-fin rays, finger-like papillae on the lower lip, a large multi-angular preanal plate, and at least four quadrangular plates of variable size surrounding the preanal plate. The new species is known only from rio Daraá and its waterfalls.
Highlights
Rineloricaria Bleeker, 1862, is the most species-rich genus of the Loricariinae with approximately 60 species (Rodriguez & Reis, 2008; Ghazzi, 2008), and widely distributed from Panama in Central America to northern Argentina, on both slopes of the Andes (Reis & Cardoso, 2001; Covain & Fisch-Muller, 2007)
Rineloricaria has been diagnosed by a combination of characters, such as presence of a small postorbital notch, surface of the inferior lip bearing short buttonlike papillae, each hemi-maxilla carrying up to 15 short mandibulary teeth, teeth strong and deeply forked, dark bands on the dorsal region of the body with the first one at the origin of dorsal fin, pectoral fin with one spine and six branched rays, a distinctly polygonal preanal plate usually surrounded by three to five other plates, and conspicuous sexual dimorphism in mature males, consisting of numerous developed odontodes along the sides of the head, on the pectoral-fin spine and predorsal area (Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1992: figs. 34-36)
We describe a very distinctive new species from rio Daraá, a tributary to the rio Negro, in northwestern of Amazonas State, Brazil, in the genus Rineloricaria, following Covain & Fisch-Muller (2007), but we expect that additional information on the phylogeny and biogeography of this group will eventually clarify the taxonomic limits and phylogenetic relationships of that genus
Summary
Rineloricaria Bleeker, 1862, is the most species-rich genus of the Loricariinae with approximately 60 species (Rodriguez & Reis, 2008; Ghazzi, 2008), and widely distributed from Panama in Central America to northern Argentina, on both slopes of the Andes (Reis & Cardoso, 2001; Covain & Fisch-Muller, 2007). Males of some species of Rineloricaria have well-developed odontodes all over the predorsal area. The genus Hemiloricaria Bleeker, 1862 had been largely considered as a synonym of Rineloricaria until, Isbrücker et al (2001) resurrected the genus and created two others (Leliella and Fonchiiichthys) to accommodate some species previously included in Rineloricaria, based on differences on sexual dimorphism. Ferraris (2003) maintained Hemiloricaria as a synonym of Rineloricaria, but in 2007, he resurrected the genus without comments, but did not consider Leliella or Fonchiiichthys as valid. Covain & Fisch-Muller (2007) followed Ferraris (2003) and did not consider Hemiloricaria, Fonchiiichthys and Leliella as valid names The genus Hemiloricaria Bleeker, 1862 had been largely considered as a synonym of Rineloricaria until, Isbrücker et al (2001) resurrected the genus and created two others (Leliella and Fonchiiichthys) to accommodate some species previously included in Rineloricaria, based on differences on sexual dimorphism. Ferraris (2003) maintained Hemiloricaria as a synonym of Rineloricaria, but in 2007, he resurrected the genus without comments, but did not consider Leliella or Fonchiiichthys as valid. Covain & Fisch-Muller (2007) followed Ferraris (2003) and did not consider Hemiloricaria, Fonchiiichthys and Leliella as valid names
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
