Abstract
Potamotrygon boesemani, new species, is described from the Corantijn river drainage in Surinam. The species has a diagnostic dorsal color pattern formed by deep orange to red ocellated spots of irregular form, encircled by relatively broad black rings. Potamotrygon boesemani is distinguished from other ocellated congeners (P. motoro, P. henlei and P. leopoldi) by the more intensely colored ocelli, which are usually yellow in the latter species. From P. motoro it is also distinguished by the darker dorsal background coloration, by the broader black contour of the dorsal ocelli, and by the irregular form of the ocelli as compared to the more rounded shape in the latter species. From P. henlei and P. leopoldi, it is distinguished by the lack of ocelli on tail. From the tentatively identified specimen of P. ocellata, which also has dark orange ocelli, the irregular contour of the ocelli in the new species is also distinctive. The teeth are relatively smaller and in greater number than in P. motoro and P. ocellata, with up to 45 rows in the upper jaw.
Highlights
The Potamotrygonidae Garman, 1877 is the only family among extant chondrichthyans which includes all representatives restricted to freshwater environments (Carvalho, 2001; Charvet-Almeida et al, 2002)
Dorsal region of disc of dark brown background coloration, with deep orange to red ocellated spots of irregular form, encircled by relatively broad black rings, in irregular concentric series, and frequently in pairs around disc center; buccal cavity dark-pigmented with orange spots in adult specimens. This species is distinguished from the ocellated congeners P. motoro (Natterer in Müller & Henle), P. henlei (Castelnau), and P. leopoldi Castex & Castello by the more intensely colored ocelli, which are usually yellow in the latter species
The USNM specimens of Potamotrygon boesemani had been misidentified as Potamotrygon histrix in museum labels
Summary
The Potamotrygonidae Garman, 1877 is the only family among extant chondrichthyans which includes all representatives restricted to freshwater environments (Carvalho, 2001; Charvet-Almeida et al, 2002). This group is widely distributed throughout the river systems of South America, and shows its highest species diversity in the Amazon region (Rosa, 1985). The family currently includes 19 to 21 valid species distributed in three genera, Potamotrygon, Plesiotrygon, and Paratrygon (Rosa, 1985; Compagno, 1999; Carvalho et al, 2003), including a recently described species of Potamotrygon from French Guiana (Deynat, 2006). B; Carvalho, pers. obs.), and is described and compared with congeners
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