Abstract
ABSTRACT The taxonomy of Galeocharax, a genus of freshwater fishes distributed in most South American cis-Andean river systems, except the rio Negro, rio São Francisco and rio Xingu basins and the eastern drainages of Brazil, is herein revised. A total of 1229 specimens were examined from which 680 had meristic and morphometric data taken. Osteological and morphological features were also examined through radiographs, scanning electron microscopy and in cleared and stained specimens. Three of the four species previously considered as valid are herein recognized: Galeocharax humeralis from rio Paraguay and lower rio Paraná basins; Galeocharax goeldii, from rio Madeira basin, with records of geographical distribution expanded to the río Madre de Dios, río Beni, rio Mamoré and rio Guaporé basins and Galeocharax gulo, which is widespread throughout rio Amazonas, río Orinoco, rio Tocantins, and upper rio Paraná basins. Galeocharax knerii is herein considered a junior synonym of Galeocharax gulo. A key to species of Galeocharax is presented.
Highlights
Galeocharax Fowler, 1910 is a genus of freshwater fishes that reach up to 25 cm in length
Nineteen different measurements were made on each specimen and they are presented in the tables and text as percentages of standard length (SL), with the exception of measurements of subunits of the head, which were expressed as percentages of head length (HL)
The present study provided evidence for alternative interpretations as to the pattern of geographic variation of the specimens from the rio Amazonas, rio Tocantins, rio Orinoco, and the upper rio Paraná basins, with implications in the number of species that may be recognized in these drainages
Summary
Galeocharax Fowler, 1910 is a genus of freshwater fishes that reach up to 25 cm in length They are popularly known as “saicanga”, “peixe-cigarra”, “peixe-cadela”, and “dentudo” in the Brazilian territory (Graça, Pavanelli, 2007; Langeani, Rêgo, 2014) and as “dentón” and “dientón alargado” in Peru and Venezuela (Taphorn, 1992; Ortega et al, 2012). Species of the genus are found in most of the main river systems of the cis-Andean South America with the exception of the rio São Francisco, rio Negro, rio Xingu basins, and the eastern drainages of Brazil. They are carnivorous, feeding on small fishes and invertebrates (Ribeiro Neto et al, 1998; Gandini et al, 2012). The presence of the parasitic isopoda (Braga cigarra, Cymothoidae), popularly known as “cigarrinha”, in the oral cavity of specimens of Galeocharax in the Paraná basin is fairly common (Brandão et al, 2013), justifying the popular name peixe cigarra
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