Neotropical electric knifefishes of the family Sternopygidae previously considered to represent a single relatively geographically widespread and morphologically variable species, Archolaemus blax, were analysed and found to represent a complex of five species, four of which are new to science. A fifth undescribed species from the Rio São Francisco basin outside the previous known range of the genus was identified. Recognized species of Archolaemus are: A. blax, previously thought to occur in the Rio Araguari, Rio Branco, Rio Tapajós, Rio Tocantins, and Rio Xingu, but which instead proved to be endemic to the Rio Tocantins; Archolaemus ferreirai sp. nov. from the Rio Mucajaí and Rio Uraricoera in the north‐eastern portions of the Amazon basin; Archolaemus janeae sp. nov. of the Rio Xingu and the upper Rio Tapajós, both southern tributaries of the mainstream Amazon; Archolaemus luciae sp. nov. of the Rio Trombetas, Rio Jari, and Rio Tapajós basins of the eastern Amazon, and the independent Rio Araguari draining into the Atlantic Ocean north of the mouth of the Amazon; Archolaemus orientalis sp. nov. of the São Francisco basin in eastern Brazil; and Archolaemus santosi sp. nov. of the Rio Jamari in the south‐western portion of the Amazon basin. The phylogenetic placements of Archolaemus and the recently described genus Japigny relative to the other members of the Eigenmanninae are discussed. A series of synapomorphies for Archolaemus are proposed and a hypothesis of the relationships within that genus is advanced. Rheophily of all members of Archolaemus is discussed, with the genus found to be the most specious clade within the Gymnotiformes living primarily in high‐energy settings. The reported anterior projection of the dentary teeth in A. blax was found to be a consequence of postmortem displacement.

Eigenmannia trilineata López and Castello, 1966 (Sternopygidae) was described from the Río de La Plata basin and subsequently cited from most South American river basins. Questions about the limits of this species raise the possibility of the occurrence of undescribed species misidentified as E. trilineata. Herein we propose the Eigenmannia trilineata species group for species that share the presence of the superior medial stripe on the flank. This group comprises: Eigenmannia antonioi sp. nov., from the Rio Anapu, Rio Amazonas basin; Eigenmannia desantanai sp. nov., from the Rio Cuiabá, Rio Paraguay basin; Eigenmannia guairaca sp. nov., from the Riacho Água do Ó, upper Rio Paraná basin; Eigenmannia matintapereira sp. nov., from the Rio Uneiuxi and Rio Urubaxi, Rio Negro basin; Eigenmannia microstoma (Reinhardt, 1852), from the Rio São Francisco basin; Eigenmannia muirapinima sp. nov., from small tributaries of the Rio Amazonas; Eigenmannia pavulagem sp. nov., from the tributaries of Rio Capim, Rio Guamá basin; E. trilineata, from the lower Rio Paraná basin and Río de La Plata basin; Eigenmannia vicentespelaea Triques, 1996, from São Vicente I and II caves, Rio Tocantins basin; and Eigenmannia waiwai sp. nov., from the Rio Trombetas basin. These species can be distinguished from each other by unique sets of meristics, morphometrics, osteological and colour pattern features. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London

A new species of Trichomycterus is described for the rio Iguaçu drainage in Southern Brazil. Trichomycterus igobi, new species, is readily distinguishable from all other species currently in the genus by its extremely large head (23.8-26.8 % SL), which is proportionally the largest head in any Trichomycteridae. That characteristic plus the relatively deep body result in a very short-bodied overall aspect, the most extremely such case in the genus Trichomycterus. Other diagnostic features that distinguish the new species from most or all of its congeners include a short caudal peduncle (15.4-19.7 % SL); an almost entirely cartilaginous second hypobranchial (with only vestigial ossification); a mesial expanded palatine ossification; a narrow cleithrum, falciform in shape; and the lack of a proximal posterior concavity on the third ceratobranchial. The new species seems to form a monophyletic group with T. stawiarski and other undescribed species (T. sp. C), also endemic to the rio Iguaçu. As putative synapomorphies, the three species share a rigid spine-like morphology of individual procurrent caudalfin rays, an extended area of dorsal caudal-fin procurrent rays, and numerous branchiostegal rays (ten or eleven).Uma nova espécie de Trichomycterus é descrita para a bacia do rio Iguaçu, sul do Brasil. Trichomycterus igobi, nova espécie, é facilmente distinguida das outras espécies atualmente no gênero por sua cabeça extremamente grande (23.8-26.8% SL), que é proporcionalmente a maior em Trichomycterinae e talvez em Trichomycteridae. Esta característica, em combinação com o corpo relativamente alto, resulta em um aspecto geral atacarracado que é o mais extremo no gênero Trichomycterus. Outras características que distinguem a nova espécie da maioria ou todas as outras espécies do gênero incluem o curto pedúnculo caudal (15.4-19.7 % SL); segundo hipo-branquial quase inteiramente cartilaginoso (somente com ossificação vestigial); palatino expandido medialmente; cleitro estreito, de formato falciforme; e ausência de uma concavidade posterior no terceiro ceratobranquial. A nova espécie parece formar um grupo monofilético com T. stawiarski e outra espécie não descrita (T. sp. C), também endêmicas do rio Iguaçu. Como potenciais sinapomorfias, as três espécies compartilham uma morfologia rígida dos raios procurrentes caudais, que são semelhantes a espinhos; área estendida de distribuição de raios procurrentes caudais dorsais; e raios branquiostégios numerosos (10 ou 11).

Is there only one electric eel species? For two and a half centuries since its description by Linnaeus, Electrophorus electricus has captivated humankind by its capacity to generate strong electric discharges. Despite the importance of Electrophorus in multiple fields of science, the possibility of additional species-level diversity in the genus, which could also reveal a hidden variety of substances and bioelectrogenic functions, has hitherto not been explored. Here, based on overwhelming patterns of genetic, morphological, and ecological data, we reject the hypothesis of a single species broadly distributed throughout Greater Amazonia. Our analyses readily identify three major lineages that diverged during the Miocene and Pliocene—two of which warrant recognition as new species. For one of the new species, we recorded a discharge of 860 V, well above 650 V previously cited for Electrophorus, making it the strongest living bioelectricity generator.

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Two new species of the trichomycterid catfish genus Trichomycterus from the rio Ribeira de Iguape basin, southeastern Brazil, are described. Trichomycterus tupinamba differs from the other species of the Trichomycterinae in having the first pectoral-fin ray not prolonged as a filament, the caudal fin is truncate with attenuated edges, two paired supraorbital pores s6, eye oriented dorsally, a subterminal mouth, anal and urogenital openings mid-way between the pelvic-fin margin and anal-fin origin, a dark spot at the base of the nasal barbel, a longitudinal row of dark spots along the midline of the flank from the opercle to the caudal-fin base, a pectoral-girdle width of 13.1-17.7 % of standard length, and a caudal-peduncle depth of 8.7-10.3 % of standard length. Trichomycterus jacupiranga differs from all other species of the Trichomycterinae in having the first pectoral-fin ray prolonged as a short filament, one fused supraorbital pore s6, a pelvic fin that covers the anal and urogenital openings, anal and urogenital openings that are closer to the anal-fin origin than to the pelvic-fin base, a truncated caudal fin with attenuated edges, and the following morphometric characteristics: head length 20.7-22.4 % standard length, preanal length 57.1-70.9 % standard length, pectoral girdle width 17.4-20.6 % standard length, trunk length 33.6-37.5 % standard length, pectoral-fin length 16.8-22.7 % standard length, dorsal-fin base length 12.8-14.1 % standard length, anal-fin base length 8.4-10.8 % standard length, head width 90.6-104.6 % head length, snout length 40.0-46.9 % head length, mouth width 27.0-37.3 % head length, and eye diameter 10.4-16.5 % head length. Distribution, ecological data and diagnostic features are presented for both new species.
Duas espécies novas de Trichomycterus da bacia do rio Ribeira de Iguape são descritas. Trichomycterus tupinamba difere das demais espécies de Trichomycterinae por apresentar o primeiro raio da nadadeira peitoral não prolongado como um filamento, nadadeira caudal truncada com margens levemente arredondadas, dois poros supraorbitais s6 contra-laterais, olhos orientados dorsalmente, boca subterminal, abertura anal e urogenital no meio do espaço entre a margem da nadadeira pélvica e a origem da nadadeira anal, uma mancha escura na base dos barbilhões nasais, uma linha longitudinal mediana formada por manchas escuras enfileiradas do opérculo até próximo da nadadeira caudal, largura da cintura peitoral 13.1-17.7 % do comprimento padrão e altura do pedúnculo caudal 8.7-10.3 % do comprimento padrão. Trichomycterus jacupiranga distingue-se das demais espécies de Trichomycterinae por apresentar o primeiro raio da nadadeira peitoral prolongado em um curto filamento, um poro supraorbital s6 fusionado, nadadeira pélvica cobrindo as aberturas anal e urogenital, aberturas anal e urogenital mais próximas da origem da nadadeira anal que da base da nadadeira pélvica, nadadeira caudal truncada com margens levemente arredondadas e pelas características morfométricas: comprimento da cabe...

The sciaenid genus Bairdiella comprises a group of relatively small fishes found in inshore waters and estuaries of the western Atlantic and eastern Pacific. Despite recent analyses of the phylogenetic relationships of Bairdiella, there has been no comprehensive revision of the alpha taxonomy of the species of the genus. Bairdiella ronchus from the western Atlantic, has a complex taxonomic history, with four junior synonyms recognized. Based on morphological and molecular evidence, this study indicates that B. ronchus represents a species complex. The species is therefore redescribed and its geographic range is redefined. Bairdiella veraecrucis, which is currently recognized as a junior synonym of B. ronchus, is revalidated, and a new species of the genus is described from the Atlantic coast of Brazil. Finally, inferences are made on the diversity and biogeography of the B. ronchus species complex.

Resumo: Com o objetivo de inventariar as espécies de peixes dos sistemas hídricos da Floresta Nacional (FLONA) de Caxiuanã (Melgaço/Portel, PA), foram realizadas coletas entre os anos de 1999 e 2004, abrangendo o maior número de ambientes distinguíveis com diversos métodos amostrais. Os métodos utilizados foram redes de tapagem, rede de cerco, rede de espera, mergulho livre e encontros ocasionais. Em um total de 208 espécies de peixes registradas, foi observada a dominância da ordem Characiformes (81 espécies), seguida por Siluriformes, Perciformes e Gymnotiformes. Estas espécies estão distribuídas em três principais ambientes: (i) pequenos igarapés, (ii) vegetação flutuante e (iii) áreas abertas dos rios e baías de Caxiuanã, mostrando que a heterogeneidade ambiental reflete-se na composição da ictiofauna na área do estudo. De acordo com o estimador Jackknife de 1ª ordem e a curva de rarefação, o número estimado de espécies foi expressivamente maior do que o observado para os três tipos de ambientes analisados, sendo que para os igarapés a estimativa foi de 51 ± 6 espécies, bancos de macrófitas 70 ± 5 espécies e as margens dos rios e baías com 160 ± 11 espécies. Esses resultados demonstram a eficiência relativa das amostragens, indicando a necessidade de novas coletas nestes ambientes.