Taxonomic revision of the Rineloricaria species (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the Paraguay River basin

Cláudio H. Zawadzki,Carla S. Pavanelli,Héctor S. Vera-Alcaraz

doi:10.1590/s1679-62252012000200006

Abstract

Species of the genus Rineloricaria from the Paraguay River basin were revised, the following species and geographic distributional patterns were found: R. aurata, Paraguay River basin in Brazil and Paraguay, rio Guaporé in Brazil; R. cacerensis, Paraguay River near Cáceres in Brazil; R. lanceolata, Paraguay River basin in Brazil and Paraguay, Guaporé, Ji-Paraná, Purus, Solimões, and Araguaia rivers in Brazil, Marañón and Madre de Dios rivers in Peru; R. parva, Paraguay River basin in Brazil and Paraguay, Paraná River in Argentina, Uruguay River in Brazil. Loricaria hoehnei is proposed as a new junior synonym of R. lanceolata. A key to the species of Rineloricaria from the Paraguay River basin is provided.

Highlights

The genus Rineloricaria Bleeker, 1862 comprises 65 valid species (Ferraris, 2007; Fichberg & Chamon, 2008; Ghazzi, 2008; Ingenito et al, 2008; Rapp Py-Daniel & Fichberg, 2008; Rodriguez & Miquelarena, 2008; Rodriguez & Reis, 2008)
Results of the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) performed with the Rineloricaria hoehnei and R. lanceolata data are shown on Figure 2a and Table 1
PCA performed with the R. aurata, R. cacerensis, R. lanceolata, and R. parva data are shown on Figure 2b

Summary

Introduction

The genus Rineloricaria Bleeker, 1862 comprises 65 valid species (Ferraris, 2007; Fichberg & Chamon, 2008; Ghazzi, 2008; Ingenito et al, 2008; Rapp Py-Daniel & Fichberg, 2008; Rodriguez & Miquelarena, 2008; Rodriguez & Reis, 2008). Fichberg & Chamon (2008) diagnosed the genus by the combination of the following characters: postorbital notch present; inferior lip with short rounded papillae; premaxilla with 7 to 15 teeth on each hemiseries; dentary teeth strong, deeply bicuspidate, and larger than premaxillary; coloration of dorsal region with dark-brown bars or blotches; abdomen with a conspicuous polygonal preanal plate, usually bordered by other three large trapezoidal plates These authors mentioned as useful some of the following features associated with the sexual dimorphism of mature males: numerous hypertrophied odontodes along the sides of the head and the dorsal surface of pectoral fin in some species (generally thick, short, and curved odontodes); and well-developed odontodes over all of the predorsal area (generally thin, long, and erected or depressed odontodes), sides of head and dorsum of pectoral fin in other members of the genus.

Methods

Results

Conclusion