Taxonomy of Probolodus Eigenmann, 1911 (Characiformes: Characidae) with description of two new species, and comments about the phylogenetic relationships and biogeography of the genus

Osmar Santos,Ricardo M C Castro

doi:10.1590/1982-0224-20130232

Osmar Santos, Ricardo M C Castro

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-0224-20130232

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Abstract

Probolodus is a genus of tetras distributed along the coastal basins of southeastern Brazil, from Espírito Santo on the north, to São Paulo states. It was proposed by Eigenmann in 1911, to include the single species P. heterostomus. However, examining of material recently collected we identified two new species: P. oyakawai, new species, from the rio Ribeira de Iguape basin, and P. sazimai, new species, from the rio Itapemirim (Espírito Santo), and drainages of the rio Doce basin (Espírito Santo and Minas Gerais states). Therefore, the distribution of P. heterostomus was restricted to the rio Paraíba do Sul basin, southeastern Brazil. The genus Probolodus was redefined based on osteological characters, in particular details of oral dentition. Probolodus heterostomus differs from its congeners by a combination of meristic and osteological characters. An identification key for the species of the genus is presented. The possible evolutionary relationships of Probolodus with other characids, especially some lepidophagous taxa are discussed. Regarding the biogeography of the group, some geological events are hypothesized as responsible for the cladogenetic events among species of the genus.

Highlights

Probolodus was described by Eigenmann (1911) based on six specimens collected by John D
Haseman along the coastal basins of southeastern Brazil, four of them collected in the rio Paraíba do Porto Alegre (Sul) basin, in Rio de Janeiro State, and two collected in the rio Ribeira de Iguape basin, in São Paulo State
Based on the examination of ichthyological material deposited in various Brazilian collections, two new species were identified: P. oyakawai, from the rio Ribeira de Iguape basin, State of São Paulo, and P. sazimai, from the drainages of the rio Doce basin and rio Itapemirim basin, Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo states, both in southeastern Brazil

Summary

Introduction

Probolodus was described by Eigenmann (1911) based on six specimens collected by John D. Malabarba (1998) for this subfamily based on derived characters related to dental morphology, muscle coverage over the anterior region of the gas bladder and color pattern of the humeral region With this definition, Probolodus and other genera, such as Aphyoditae, Leptagoniates, Leptobrycon, Microschemobrycon, Mixobrycon, and Prionobrama were excluded from the Cheirodontinae, and were considered incertae sedis in Characidae (Lima et al, 2003). Based on the examination of ichthyological material deposited in various Brazilian collections, two new species were identified: P. oyakawai, from the rio Ribeira de Iguape basin, State of São Paulo, and P. sazimai, from the drainages of the rio Doce basin and rio Itapemirim basin, Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo states, both in southeastern Brazil. An identification key to the species of the genus is presented, and the phylogenetic relationships and biogeography of Probolodus are discussed

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Literature Cited