Re-description of Trichomycterus cubataonis BIZERRIL, 1994 (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae) from the Cubatão river basin, southern Brazil

Abstract

Trichomycterus cubataonis, from the Cubatão river, southern Brazil, is re-described and revalidated. It is hypothesized as closely related to T. diabolus, T. itatiayae, T. maculosus and T. nigroautarus based on the presence of a broad metapterygoid, which is wider than deeper. Trichomycterus cubataonis differs from the above four species by the number of pectoral, dorsal, and anal-fins rays, origin of anal fin related to the dorsal-fin base, insertion of pelvic-fin related to the vertebrae, origin of dorsal- and anal fins related to the vertebrae, number of dorsal and ventral procurrent rays of caudal fin, number of odontodes of the opercular and interopercular patch, length, depth and width of the head, and eye size. Moreover, T. cubataonis differs from T. zonatus mainly by the insertion of pelvic-fin related to the vertebrae, origin of dorsal- and anal fins related to the vertebrae, number of anal fin rays, and the position of the anal fin related to the dorsal-fin base. Therefore, T. cubataonis should be considered a valid species.