Rivulus stellifer, a New Species of Annual Killifish from the Orinoco Basin of Venezuela

Abstract

Rivulus stellifer, n. sp. is described from the Orinoco basin, Estado Cojedes, Venezuela. It is an obligate annual fish found in very shallow temporary floodpools in association with the other five annual rivulins known from the Orinoco basin. It differs from other known species of Rivulus in elongate male pelvic fins, color pattern and annual life cycle and thus seems to link other non-annual Rivulus species with the New World annual genera presumably derived from a Rivulus-like ancestor.