Dark Longitudinal Stripes Research Articles

Hypostomus caudofasciatus (Teleostei: Loricariidae), a new remarkably colored species from the upper Rio Paraná basin in Brazil

Despite being one of the better-surveyed regions in Brazil, the upper Rio Paraná basin still reveals relatively numerous large new species of fish. Here, we present a new uniquely colored species of the highly diverse, armored catfish genus Hypostomus. The new species was mostly found in the Rio Grande basin, plus a single record in the main channel of the Rio Paraná. Hypostomus caudofasciatus n. sp. is remarkable by its large eyes, and it completely differs from congeners by having four longitudinal dark stripes on the flanks and a caudal fin with conspicuous longitudinal dark stripes on a yellow background (unique in Hypostomus).

A new species of Homidia (Collembola: Entomobridae) from Korea, with notes on its DNA data

A new species, Homidia pseudokoreana sp. nov., from South Korea described based on morphological data and DNA barcodes. This species is morphologically characterized by the body color pattern with a longitudinal dark stripe on medial area of Th. II to Th. III, coxal macrochaetal formula as 3/4+1,3/4+2, and unguis III with three inner teeth. In this study, DNA sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene were used as DNA barcode to distinguish species. It showed distinct differences in genetic distances between Homidia species. DNA barcoding was a useful tool when identifying morphologically closely related species in Homidia.

Revisiting Hypostomus khimaera (Siluriformes: Loricariidae): the identity of a morphologically variable species

Abstract Hypostomus khimaera, described from the upper rio Paraguai basin in Brazil, was reported to present some morphological variations in its original description, which allied to its relatively wide geographical distribution reinforced the need for a new assessment of its taxonomic status. Here, we analyzed a new robust set of material, composed by 636 specimens from several localities within the upper rio Paraguai basin, besides the material listed in the original description. From this, it was possible to better understand the limits of the species providing a more accurate diagnosis and a redescription for H. khimaera, which also brought some light to the limits of the H. cochliodon group itself. The species can be distinguished from its congeners by having the following features: (I) absence of a notch between the metapterygoid and hyomandibula, (II) acutely angled dentaries, with up to about 90°, (III) teeth with medial cusp ranging from villiform to shovel-shaped, (IV) opercle completely surrounded by a thick layer of skin, (V) a longitudinal dark stripe along middle portion of flanks, which is variably diffuse, and (VI) dark spots on at least one part of the body. Although morphological and color pattern differences have been found in different populations along the upper rio Paraguai basin, all examined specimens are herein considered to belong to H. khimaera, a decision based on both morphologic and molecular analyses. Additionally, an updated identification key for the Hypostomus species in the Brazilian portion of the upper rio Paraguai basin is also provided.

A new striped species of Brachychalcinus (Ostariophysi: Characiformes) from Amapá and Pará states, northern Brazil

Abstract A new species of Brachychalcinus is described from the rio Mapaoni, rio Jari basin, and the coastal rio Araguari, Amapá and Pará states, Brazil. The new species is distinguished from all congeners, except B. reisi, by possessing conspicuous longitudinal dark stripes across the body. It can be diagnosed from B. reisi by having longer predorsal and preanal spines, by having scales with few curved radii, and by having more scale rows between lateral line and midventral scale series. A single specimen from rio Tapajós (Pará, Brazil) bears all the diagnostic features of the new species and is herein tentatively identified as belonging to this taxon, extending its distribution to this river basin.

Redescription of Hyphessobrycon cachimbensis (Characiformes: Characidae) with the description of a new congener from the Serra do Cachimbo, Brazil

Abstract The Serra do Cachimbo is a highland area at the southeastern portion of the Amazon Forest drained by the headwaters of tributaries of rios Xingu and Tapajós. It is known as an area of high level of endemism of fish, low species diversity, and very few taxa with broad distribution in the other parts of the Amazon. Despite its biogeographical importance, there are still many poorly sampled areas. Four expeditions to the region yielded in the rediscovery of a poorly known, endemic species, Hyphessobrycon cachimbensis, and the discovery of a similar, allopatric undescribed congener, frequently misidentified as H. cachimbensis. We provided the redescription of H. cachimbensis and the description of the new species. Both can be differentiated from most congeners by having a conspicuous longitudinal dark stripe on body and anal-fin base convex in males, due to thicker musculature insertion in the region. Other diagnostic features are mostly related to counts of scales and fin rays.

Mystus celator, a new species of catfish from northern Myanmar (Actinopterygii: Siluriformes: Bagridae)

Abstract Mystus celatorsp. nov. is described from the Irrawaddy River drainage in northern Myanmar. It can be distinguished from congeners in having a combination of: three equally dark longitudinal stripes separated by two pale interspaces on sides of body; round, dark tympanic spot; ovoid, dark spot on caudal peduncle; length of adipose-fin base 18.0–23.3% SL; angle of predorsal profile 21–24°; posterior cranial fontanelle not reaching base of supraoccipital process; 25–30 rakers on the first branchial arch; and 35–36 vertebrae. The identity of Mystus pulcher is fixed with the designation of a lectotype.

Tidying things up: Tropicosa, a new Neotropical wolf spider genus (Araneae: Lycosidae: Lycosinae)

The new genus Tropicosa is proposed based on species of some controversial Neotropical genera of lycosids. These spiders present a longitudinal dark stripe over the sternum in both sexes, median apophysis sinuous, tegular lobe evidently sclerotized and the epigyne with median septum anteriorly expanded and with a parallel, triangular hood. We transfer Alopecosa moesta (Holmberg), Schizocosa chelifasciata (Mello-Leitão) and Lycosa thorelli (Keyserling) to Tropicosa gen. nov. and describe one new species, Tropicosa baguala sp. nov. Likewise, Arctosa bogotensis (Keyserling) is synonymized with Tropicosa thorelli (Keyserling) comb. nov., and Lycosa langei Mello-Leitão with T. chelifasciata (Mello-Leitão) comb. nov. based on examined types. All the four species proposed as members of Tropicosa gen. nov. have South American distribution.

A new species of Characidium (Characiformes: Crenuchidae) from the rio Madeira basin, Brazil.

This study describes Characidium nambiquara, a new species from the upper rio Guaporé, rio Madeira basin, Brazil. The new species differs from most congeners by the presence of isthmus and area between the contralateral pectoral-fin bases completely naked. From congeners with some degree of scaleless ventral surface of the body C. nambiquara differs by having 10 circumpeduncular scales. The new species is also distinguished from congeners by the spotted colour pattern on body of the large-sized specimens and by having black dashes on all fins and conspicuous midlateral longitudinal dark stripe or conspicuous vertical bars absent. Characidium nambiquara further differs from most congeners by the presence of 34-36 pored scales on the lateral line, 3 horizontal scale rows above the lateral line and 3 horizontal scale rows from the lateral line to the midventral scale series. Remarks on intraspecific colour variation within the genus, not related to sexual dimorphism, are also provided.

A new Hyphessobrycon (Characiformes: Characidae) of the Hyphessobrycon heterorhabdus species-group from the Central Amazon basin, Brazil.

A new species of Hyphessobrycon Durbin from the Paraná do Urariá system in Central Amazon region, Amazonas state, Brazil, is described. The new species is allocated into the Hyphessobrycon heterorhabdus species-group due to its color pattern, composed by a well-defined, horizontally elongated humeral blotch continuous with a conspicuous midlateral dark stripe that becomes blurred towards the caudal peduncle, and can be distinguished from all other species of the group by possessing humeral blotch and continuous midlateral stripe broad, occupying vertical height equivalent of two scale rows. A tricolored pattern composed dorsally by a red or reddish longitudinal stripe, a middle iridescent, golden or silvery longitudinal stripe, and ventrally by a variably-developed longitudinal dark stripe is identified as a putative additional character shared by the species of the Hyphessobrycon heterorhabdus species-group. The presence of bony hooks in all fins in mature males of some species of the Hyphessobrycon heterorhabdus species-group is also discussed.

Taxonomic study of Moenkhausia cotinho Eigenmann, 1908 and Hemigrammus newboldi (Fernández-Yépez, 1949) with the description of two new speciesof Moenkhausia (Teleostei: Characiformes: Characidae).

Moenkhausia cotinho is redescribed based on the examination of meristic and morphometric data and external morphological characters of specimens from the Amazon and Orinoco basins and from rivers in the Guyana. The species is distinguished from congeners based on the combination of a reticulate color pattern, the presence of dark spots on the posterior edge of scales of the longitudinal rows dorsal to the lateral line, the presence of a dark blotch on the caudal-fin base failing to reach the posterior tip of the middle caudal-fin rays; the dorsal region of the eyes red to orange in life; 5/3 longitudinal series of scales, above and below the lateral line, respectively; and the tips of the pectoral-fin rays not extending beyond the base of the pelvic fin. All specimens of M. cotinho have a completely pored literal line except for a few specimens from drainages in the Guyana. The redefinition of the taxonomic limits and geographic distribution of M. cotinho allowed us to reevaluate the taxonomic limits and geographic distribution of Hemigrammus newboldi, the identity of which has been previously questioned, but which is clearly diagnosed from M. cotinho based on the relatively longer pectoral fin, the presence of conical teeth in the posterior portion of the dentary, the absence of a reticulate color pattern of body and in the shorter longitudinal dark stripe on body. In addition, two new species of Moenkhausia are described: Moenkhausia rondoni sp n. from the rio Madeira basin, Brazil and Moenkhausia pirahan sp n. from the lower rio Madeira and rio Trombetas and rio Tapajós basins, Brazil.

The invasive land flatworm Obama nungara (Platyhelminthes: Geoplanidae) reaches a natural environment in the oceanic island of São Miguel (Açores).

During an entomological sampling trip in the island of São Miguel (Açores, Portugal) on 02-11-2019 by José Rafael González-López, one specimen of the invasive flatworm Obama nungara Carbayo et al. 2016 was found under a rock (Fig. 1A). The specimen was photographed in situ and identified by its external morphology based on its large and broad leaf-like body with nearly parallel body margins, narrow and rounded anterior end, rounded posterior end, and dorsal pigmentation consisting of a light brown ground color covered with dark longitudinal and irregular stripes, and ventral surface grayish-white. Recent studies (Justine et al. 2020; Negrete et al. 2020) showed the reliability of photograph-based identification of O. nungara specimens. It is the sixth island where this species has been found (after Guernsey, Great Britain, Ireland, Corsica, and Madeira).

A new species of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from southern Vietnam.

We describe a new species of Cyrtodactylus on the basis of four specimens collected from Phu My, Binh Dinh Province, southern Vietnam. Cyrtodactylus phumyensis sp. nov. is distinguished from the remaining Indochinese bent-toed geckos by a combination of the following characters: size small (SVL up to 66.8 mm); two internasals; dorsal tubercle rows 18 or 19 at midbody; ventral scale rows 33-41; ventrolateral folds slightly developed; each thigh with 5-7 enlarged femoral scales; femoral pores absent in males and female; a series of 5-7 precloacal pores plus a pitted, enlarged precloacal scale in males; 6 pitted, enlarged precloacal scales in female; paravertebral tubercles 20-23; lamellae under toe IV 18-21; small subcaudal scales, not transversely enlarged; two irregular dark longitudinal stripes on shoulder. In phylogenetic analyses, the new species is recovered as a member of the Cyrtodactylus irregularis species group, and strongly supported as a sister taxon of C. cucdongensis from Khanh Hoa Province.

A new species of Hemiodus Müller (Characiformes: Hemiodontidae) from the lower Rio Xingu, Brazil.

A new species of Hemiodus is described from the Rio Xingu basin, Pará, Brazil. It is distinguished from congeners by the combination of presence of a dark longitudinal stripe extending from head to tip of lower caudal-fin lobe, an oblique blotch on dorsal-fin, 9-11 scale rows above lateral line, 58-66 perforated lateral line scales, and 17-20 circumpeduncular scales. Comments on the conservation status of the new species, as well as its relationships among Hemiodus species, are made.

A new endangered species of Megaleporinus (Characiformes: Anostomidae) from the Rio de Contas basin, eastern Brazil.

A new species of Megaleporinus is described from the Rio de Contas, a coastal drainage of eastern Brazil, and its phylogenetic relationships are studied using molecular data. The new species is unique among Anostomidae by possessing two exclusive features: an irregular dark longitudinal stripe from supracleithrum to second midlateral blotch and anterior cranial fontanel partially closed. In addition, the new species is diagnosed by having three premaxillary teeth, three dentary teeth, 37 or 38 scales in lateral line, 16 scale rows around caudal peduncle, three dark midlateral blotches on body, and red fins in life. The new species is closely related to M. obtusidens from the São Francisco basin, corroborating previous studies that indicated that the latter represents a species complex as currently defined. The new species exhibits the first rib enlarged in mature males, a feature described for some congeners. The new species is herein considered to be Endangered under the IUCN criteria.

Redescription of Moenkhausia melogramma (Characiformes: Characidae), a poorly known tetra from the western Amazon basin

ABSTRACT Moenkhausia melogramma is herein redescribed, based on the examination of the holotype plus additional specimens from the western Amazon basin in Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador. Moenkhausia melogramma shares with M. collettii, M. conspicua, M. copei, M. venerei, and M. flava a broad dark longitudinal stripe across the eye, and a well-defined dark stripe on the anal-fin base. It can be promptly distinguished from these species by having two humeral blotches. Additionally, we provide comments on the putative relationships of Moenkhausia melogramma with the aforementioned congeners and the Hemigrammus lunatus species-group.

Chelidoperca cerasina sp. nov., a new perchlet (Perciformes: Serranidae) from the southwest Pacific Ocean

The new serranid fish Chelidoperca cerasina is described on the basis of 13 specimens from the Coral Sea (off New Caledonia and eastern Australia), southwest Pacific Ocean, at depths of 245–338 m. The new species can be readily distinguished from all congeners by having the following combination of characters: an orange spot on pectoral-fin and caudal-fin bases; 4 scale rows between lateral line and base of spinous dorsal fin; cheek scales in 8 or 9 (modally 8) rows; tip of upper caudal-fin lobe elongated, slightly longer than lower lobe in specimens > ca. 100 mm; no longitudinal dark stripe or row of dark blotches laterally on body; interorbital scales extending beyond mid-orbit level, but not reaching anterior margin of orbit; scales on ventral surface of lower jaw restricted to angular, absent on dentary; pelvic fin short, tip not reaching anus when adpressed.

The <i>Pelvicachromis pulcher</i>: A Local Aquarium Species

A review was carried out on the Pelvicachromis pulcher, a local Aquarium fish that possesses a great ornamental value. The review aimed at eliciting interest in the culture of the species, as an additional aquarium fish for the development of the Ornamental fisheries industry in Nigeria. The study revealed that the Pelvicachromis pulcher, is widely distributed in southern Nigeria, western Cameroon and eastern Benin. They are a dwarf freshwater teleost fish, with males attaining a maximum length of approximately 12.5cm (4.9 in) and a maximum weight of 9.5g (0.34 oz), while the females are smaller and deeper bodied, with a maximum length of 8.1 cm (3.2 in) and a maximum weight of 9.4 g (0.33 oz). Their beautiful coloration makes them important ornamental fishes. Both sexes have a dark longitudinal stripe that runs from the caudal fin to the mouth and pink to red abdomens, the intensity of which changes during courtship and breeding. Their environmental requirements is 24-260C temperature, acidic to neutral (pH 5.6 – 6.2, and soft water (12 – 22 mg/l – 1CaCO3).They are secretive cave spawners, and exhibit vigorous parental care, but easily breed in captivity. They are omnivorous, and so easily manageable. However, its availability in the market is limited. This is as a result of certain constraints such as the absence of its Aquaculture, as very little is known about it and its economic importance where it occurs naturally, collection of fish from the wild for stocking tanks which is associated with risks in their area of occurrence.Keywords: Fish Culture, Nigerian Red, Ornamental fisheries, Pelvicachromis pulcher

Taxonomic revision of the genus Anostomoides (Characiformes: Anostomidae).

A taxonomic revision of Anostomoides is herein presented based on a comprehensive revision of specimens deposited in fish collections and the literature. The present revision proposes that A. laticeps is a junior synonym of A. atrianalis, while A. passionis is a junior synonym of Leporinus nattereri, and the latter is thus transferred to Anostomoides, forming the new combination Anostomoides nattereri. Principal Components Analysis (PCA) showed that examined specimens form two distinct morphotypes, corroborating the validity of both A. atrianalis and A. nattereri. Anostomoides nattereri is distinguished from A. atrianalis by having four branchiostegal rays (vs. three), three pores in infraorbital one (vs. four), 37-39 pored lateral-line scales (vs. 41-44), lower lip with rounded dermal papillae (vs. forming ridges), three dark rounded midlateral blotches (vs. three or four vertically elongated blotches and/or a faded dark longitudinal stripe), dark lines between scale series on posterior half of body on specimens smaller than 150 mm SL (vs. dark lines absent), a greater body depth (27.6-36.2 % vs. 24.5-38.7% of SL) and smaller interorbital distance (34.4-53.8 % vs. 42.6-67.3 % of HL). Anostomoides nattereri is distributed across several tributaries of the Amazon and Orinoco rivers, whereas A. atrianalis is widespread throughout the Amazon, Orinoco, and Essequibo basins. The genus Anostomoides is currently diagnosed based on a combination of non-exclusive characters: upturned or slightly upturned mouth with four premaxillary teeth including symphyseal tooth bicuspid or with blunt cutting edge, remaining teeth slightly tricuspid (with medial cuspid distinctly larger); four dentary teeth, symphyseal tooth with truncate cutting edge (without cusps); second tooth with a single large cusp, and two lateral teeth with three or slightly more small cusps.

A New Species of Moenkhausia Eigenmann, 1903 (Characiformes, Characidae) from the Upper Rio Negro Basin, Brazil

A new species of Moenkhausia is described from Rio Curicuriari and Rio Tiquie, both right-bank tributaries of the upper Rio Negro basin, Amazonas State, Brazil. The new taxon differs from all congeners, except M. agnesae and M. beninei, by the combination of a sinuous humeral blotch, similar to a compressed letter Z, and distinct dark longitudinal stripes along the body sides. The new species can be distinguished from M. agnesae and M. beninei by the presence of a single humeral blotch and of longitudinal stripes running through the center of the scales, more conspicuous dorsally.

Description of a new Hemigrammus Gill (Characiformes: Characidae) from the río Madeira basin in Peru and Bolivia.

We described herein a new Hemigrammus from the río Madre de Dios and rio Mamoré basins in southeastern Peru and Bolivia. The new species possess a color pattern similar to those belonging to the Hemigrammus lunatus species-group, i.e., a broad longitudinal dark stripe across the eye and a conspicuous, narrow dark stripe along the anal-fin basis. It can be easily diagnosed from the species belonging to this group by presenting the combination of the following characters: an oval, horizontally elongated humeral blotch, 6-7 upper branch and 10-12 lower branch gill-rakers, up to five cusps on broader maxillary teeth, and by lacking a midlateral dark stripe. Comments on its putative relationships are provided. Additionally, we updated the geographical distribution of Hemigrammus lunatus and H. machadoi based on an exhaustive survey of material deposited in collections. [Species Zoobank registration: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:A2ED5D61-8434-4A0F-BC5B-B496FB3DC191].