Species Of Crenicichla Research Articles

Relationship between diet and pharyngeal jaw morphology of Crenicichla species (Cichliformes: Cichlidae) in streams from Uruguay and Jacuí basins, Southern Brazil

Cichlidae have a magnificent ecological versatility that provides the species to explore many trophic niches, and behavioural biology. This versatility was achieved by modifications in the cranial and pharyngeal apparatus of cichlids. Accordingly, we aim to examine the relationships between pharyngeal morphology and diet of three species of the genus Crenicichla. We analysed the stomach contents and the morphology (through the geometric morphometric and teeth types) of their lower pharyngeal jaws (LPJ). We tested the hypothesis that LPJ morphology predicts the diet of Crenicichla species in streams. Our results indicated that the diet and the patterns of pharyngeal jaws were different among the species of Crenicichla, mainly the posterior process of the LPJ, the region of muscle insertion of LPJs with the neurocranium and the curvature of LPJ. Variation among the lower pharyngeal jaw shapes was shown to be directly associated with the use of food resources. Crenicichla species had a carnivorous diet based on fish and invertebrates (Aegla and aquatic insects). Higher fish consumption was observed in species with elongated lateral process in the LPJ and larger numbers of teeth, mainly recurved and conical unicuspid and bicuspid teeth (C. scottii and C. lepidota). On the other hand, higher consumption of Aegla was associated with a robust LPJ and molariform teeth (C. punctata). The total number of teeth was positively correlated with higher fish consumption. In addition, our results point to the need for investigations about spatial-temporal variations in Crenicichla diets to understand this group’s success in several freshwater environments.

Karyotype diversity between species of Crenicichla (Perciformes, Cichlidae) from different Brazilian hydrographic basins.

Crenicichla is the largest genus in the Cichlidae family in South America. The genus includes 100 valid species that are popularly known in Brazil as jacundás or joaninhas and are widely distributed in rivers east of the Andes. Cytogenetic analyses were carried out on seven species in this genus. All species showed a diploid number of 48 with interspecific differences in karyotype formulas and AgNORs located in interstitial position on the short arm of the largest metacentric pair, except for the two populations from C. britskii. Population A showed terminal markings on the long arm of the fifth pair of the complement, and population B showed up to two marked chromosome pairs. FISH with an 18S rDNA probe was coincident with AgNORs and CMA3, except for pair 6 from population B of C. britskii that did not presented positive CMA3 sites. This work presents first cytogenetic data for C. haroldoi, C. maculata, and C. punctata, and the results show karyotypic patterns similar to those in the literature. However, the diversity found in populations of C. britskii represents new information about the evolution of the karyotype of the Cichlidae family, which has been conservative. Furthermore, the data could assist in phylogenetic studies of Crenicichla.

A small new species of Crenicichla Heckel, 1840 from middle rio Xingu, Brazil (Teleostei: Cichlidae)

A new species of Crenicichla is described from the middle rio Xingu and tributaries, upstream from Volta Grande do Xingu. The largest specimen measured 47.8 mm SL. The new speciescan be distinguished from all other Crenicichla species by the combination of the following character states: presence of serrae on supracleithrum (diagnostic of Crenicichla wallacii species group), large caudal blotch centrally located on caudal lateral line (shared with C. urosema and C. virgatula ), vertical dark stripes on the caudal fin and up to three series of teeth on premaxilla and maxilla (vs. more than four series of teeth). The new species described hereinis the eleventh species of Crenicichla listed from the rio Xingu basin. Similarities of color pattern among small species of Crenicichla is discussed.

Wallace’s Pike Cichlid Gets a Name after 160 Years: A New Species of Cichlid Fish (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from the Upper Rio Negro in Brazil

A cichlid species first collected by Alfred Russell Wallace in the upper Rio Negro in 1852, lost during the transport to England but documented in drawings, is described as Crenicichla monicae on the basis of three specimens collected by the Swedish Amazonas Expedition 1923–1925. Crenicichla monicae is most similar to C. johanna, C. rosemariae, and one undescribed species which are characterized by cycloid scales, distinguishing them from other species of the genus in which most scales are ctenoid. Crenicichla monicae is recorded only from the lower Rio Uaupes and lower Rio Icana, tributaries of the upper Rio Negro, and is sympatric with the similar species C. johanna and C. lenticulata. It is distinguished from all other species of Crenicichla by the color pattern in females, with scattered dark spots on the upper half of the side and on the dorsal and caudal fins. Crenicichla monicae is a member of the C. lugubris species group, characterized by very small scales in a large number along the middle of th...

Crenicichla taikyra (Teleostei: Cichlidae), a new species of pike cichlid from the middle rio Paraná, Argentina.

Crenicichla taikyra, new species, is described from the middle río Paraná, Argentina. Crenicichla taikyra is distinguished from the other species of the genus by the following combination of characters: lower pharyngeal tooth plate stout, bearing molariform teeth, ascending arm of premaxilla longer than the dentigerous arm, posterior edge of preoperculum serrated, a well developed suborbital stripe, and absence of scattered dark dots on flanks. Molariform teeth on pharyngeal jaws is a derived character among Crenicichla species, however this character state has appeared several times in unrelated species.

Crenicichla chicha, a new species of pike cichlid (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from the rio Papagaio, upper rio Tapajós basin, Mato Grosso, Brazil

Crenicichla chicha, new species, occurs in clear, fast-running waters with rocky substrates in the rio Papagaio and tributaries. It is distinguished from all other Crenicichla species by the combination of two character states: infraorbitals 3 and 4 co-ossified (vs. separated) and 66-75 scales in the row immediately above to that containing the lower lateral line (E1 row scales). Crenicichla chicha shares a smooth preopercular margin, co-ossification of infraorbitals 3 and 4, and some color features with C. hemera from the adjacent rio Aripuanã drainage, rio Madeira basin. It differs from Crenicichla hemera in more E1 scales (66-75 vs. 58-65) and presence of a conspicuous black narrow stripe running from infraorbital 3 obliquely caudoventrad toward the preopercular margin vs. a rounded and faint suborbital marking present on infraorbitals 3-4. Examination of the type series and additional material from the rio Aripuanã confirms that Crenicichla guentheri Ploeg, 1991 is a junior subjective synonym of C. hemera Kullander, 1990.

Crenicichla hu, a new species of cichlid fish (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from the Paraná basin in Misiones, Argentina

A new species of Crenicichla Heckel, C. hu, is described from the arroyo Piray–Miní, a left-hand tributary of the río Paraná, Misiones province, Argentina. This new species is easily distinguished from its congeners in the La Plata basin and adjacent coastal rivers by the dark coloration (dark grey or dark brown to black), a color pattern consisting of 7 to 9 black irregular blotches on the flank, and 47–54 scales in the E1 row. Adult females have dorsal fin with an irregular color pattern formed by wide black and white longitudinal stripes and blotches. In addition to standard morphological comparisons, a brief molecular phylogenetic analysis of Crenicichla species from the province of Misiones is also introduced.

Crenicichla ypo (Teleostei: Cichlidae), a new species from the middle Paraná basin in Misiones, Argentina

A new species of Crenicichla, C. ypo, is described from the Arroyo Urugua-í, a left-hand tributary of the middle Paraná River, Misiones province, Argentina. The new species is recognized by 6 to 8 irregular blotches along the upper lateral line, absence of scattered dark spots on flanks, low number (47-55) of E1 scales, and a slightly prognathous lower jaw. Females have a distinctive coloration of the dorsal fin, with a wide black longitudinal stripe on the distal portion with an equally wide red stripe below it.

Phylogenetic relationships of species of Crenicichla (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from southern South America based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene

Phylogenetic analysis using Bayesian inference, likelihood and parsimony methods was conducted on 60 complete mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences from 21 species of Crenicichla, including all species known from Uruguay (Crenicichla celidochilus, Crenicichla lepidota Crenicichla minuano, Crenicichla missioneira, Crenicichla punctata, Crenicichla scottii, Crenicichla vittata), Crenicichla compressiceps, Crenicichla empheres, Crenicichla geayi, Crenicichla iguassuensis, Crenicichla macrophthalma, Crenicichla menezesi, Crenicichla notophthalmus, Crenicichla regani, Crenicichla cf. regani, Crenicichla semifasciata, Crenicichla sveni, Crenicichla tendybaguassu, two unidentified species, and also two species of Teleocichla. Bayesian analysis resulted in a trichotomy with three major groups: (1) The C. missioneira species group (C. celidochilus, C. empheres, C. minuano, C. missioneira, C. tendybaguassu, and an undescribed species analyzed); (2) a group of southern species (C. iguassuensis, C. punctata, C. scottii, C. vittata); and (3) a rather heterogeneous group comprising the type species C. macrophthalma, members of the Crenicichla reticulata species group (C. geayi, C. semifasciata), members of the Crenicichla wallacii species group (C. compressiceps, C. notophthalmus, C. regani, C. cf. regani), members of the Crenicichla saxatilis species group (C. lepidota, C. menezesi, C. sveni, C. sp.), and two species of Teleocichla. Parsimony jackknifing resulted in a quadritomy with: (1) C. macrophthalma, (2) Teleocichla, (3) the saxatilis + wallacii group species, and (4) the rest, which include C. geayi and C. semifasciata as sister group to a dichotomy with the C. missioneira group and the remaining southern species. The sequence variation within the C. missioneira group is remarkably minor despite considerable morphological differences, supporting the conclusion that it forms an endemic species flock in the Uruguay River basin. Previously proposed species groups within the speciose genus Crenicichla (more than 90 species known) are partly corroborated. However, C. celidochilus was not previously associated with the C. missioneira species group, and C. vittata has not previously been associated with C. scottii, C. iguassuensis, or C. punctata. Crenicichla lepidota, C. sveni, C. menezesi and C. sp. represent the C. saxatilis group. Species of small size, representing the C. wallacii species group and Teleocichla are characterized by very long branches, and the position of Teleocichla differed considerably between the Bayesian and parsimony trees. This finding does not invalidate Teleocichla but rather suggests that the several monophyletic major clades within Crenicichla may need nominal recognition. A putative hybrid specimen with a morphology combining components from C. vittata and C. scottii, but with a cytochrome b sequence from C. scottii was found in a sample from the Rio Quarai/Cuareim. Another putative hybrid specimen with a unique morphology but a cytochrome b sequence agreeing with C. scottii was found in a sample from Maldonado, but no other Crenicichla species than C. scottii is known from that locality.

A review of the species of Crenicichla (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from the Atlantic coastal rivers of southeastern Brazil from Bahia to Rio Grande do Sul States, with descriptions of three new species

Six species of Crenicichla, three of which are new, are recognized from the Atlantic coastal rivers of souhteastern Brazil from the state of Bahia south to the state of Rio Grande do Sul: C. mucuryna (upper rio Mucuri, Minas Gerais), C. lacustris (from the rio Paraíba do Sul north to the rio Buranhem, Bahia), C. iguapina, new species (rio Ribeira de Iguape), C. tingui, new species (from the rio Itapocu to the rio Nhundiaquara drainage), C. maculata, new species (lagoa dos Quadros, rio Maquiné, Rio Grande do Sul to rio Itapocu, Santa Catarina drainages), and Crenicichla punctata (laguna dos Patos basin). Crenicichla biocellata is a synonym of C. lacustris; and also a secondary homonym of Sparus biocellatus, a synonym of C. saxatilis. Crenicichla dorsocellata is also a synonym of C. lacustris.

Crenicichla celidochilus N. Sp. from Uruguay and a Multivariate Analysis of the lacustris Group (Perciformes, Cichlidae)

Crenicichla celidochilus is described as a new species of the family Cichlidae. The type material was taken in two tributaries of Rio Cuareim in Uruguay. Crenicichla celidochilus fundamentally differs from other species of the genus by the presence of a widened and intensely pigmented lateral band continued onto the base of the caudal fin including the caudal ocellus. The relationships of C. celidochilus to the closely-related species of lacustris group (C. cf. iguassuensis, C. niederleinii, C. scottii, and C. vittata) was assessed by principal components analysis and Minimum Spanning Tree of 33 characters found variable among these taxa. The evidence presented suggests that C. celidochilus differs from its relatives in color pattern. Crenicichla cf. iguassuensis and C. niederleinii are found in an intermediate position between C. scottii and C. vittata. A close affinity exists between C. celidochilus and C. scottii. T HE species of Crenicichla exhibit marked preference for lotic environments. Crenicichla was described by Heckel (1840), together with the genus Batrachops. The differences between these two genera are still a matter of controversy. Some authors (Giinther [1862];