Two New Species of the Neotropical Catfish GenusLepthoplosternum(Ostariophysi: Siluriformes: Callichthyidae)

Abstract

Abstract Two new species of the callichthyid catfish genus Lepthoplosternum are described from the Amazon region. Lepthoplosternum stellatum is described from a tributary of Lago Tefe, Amazonas, Brazil, and it is diagnosed from other Lepthoplosternum species by a unique combination of characters: lower lip with pointed, crenulate, triangular fleshy projections lateral to the medial notch, caudal peduncle comparatively shallow (15.7–18.9% SL), and dorsal fin usually with one unbranched and seven branched rays. Lepthoplosternum ucamara is described from the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve in the lower Ucayali River, Loreto, Peru, and can be diagnosed from other Lepthoplosternum species by the following unique combination of characters: lower lip with short, rounded projections, caudal peduncle comparatively shallow (15.2–17.7% SL), and dorsal fin with two unbranched and six branched rays. The distribution of Lepthoplosternum altamazonicum is extended to include the varzea floodplains of the Solimoes River a...