Austrolebias paucisquama (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae), a new species of annual killifish from southern Brazil

Abstract

Austrolebias paucisquama is described from the rio Vacacaí drainage, a tributary to the rio Jacuí, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The new species belongs to the Austrolebias alexandri species-group, by sharing the apomorphic bright blue iridescence and dark gray pectoral fins in males. It is distinguished from other species of this group by having fewer scales around caudal peduncle (12) and fewer dorsal-fin rays in males (17-21). The lack of contact organs on the inner surface of the pectoral fin in males and the color pattern of females -ground color light brownish, sides of body with a variable number of relatively large dark black spots distributed mostly on posterior portion of body -distinguish A. paucisquama from all other species of the genus.Austrolebias paucisquama, uma nova espécie de peixe anual é descrita da bacia do rio Vacacaí, tributário do rio Jacuí, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. A nova espécie pertence ao grupo Austrolebias alexandri, que apresenta duas apomorfias, pontos azuis claros e nadadeiras peitorais cinza escuro nos machos. Distingue-se das outras espécies do grupo pelo reduzido número de escamas ao redor do pedúnculo caudal (12) e pelo menor número de raios na nadadeira dorsal dos machos (17-21). A ausência de órgãos de contato na superfície interior das nadadeiras peitorais nos machos e o padrão de colorido das fêmeas -flancos marrom claro com variável número de pontos pretos relativamente alongados distribuídos principalmente na porção posterior -distinguem A. paucisquama das outras espécies do gênero.

A new species of Austrolebias Costa (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae) from northeastern Uruguay, with comments on distribution patterns

“…There are 39 currently recognized species (Costa, 2006;Ferrer et al, 2008;Loureiro & García, 2008), most (65%) described in the last 25 years.…”

Discovery of endangered annual killifish Austrolebias cheradophilus (Aplocheiloidei: Rivulidae) in Brazil, with comments on habitat, population structure and conservation status

“…Austrolebias Costa, a specious genus of the family Rivulidae, comprises about 40 small annual killifishes (Costa, 2008;Ferrer et al, 2008;Loureiro & García, 2008; endemic to South America and distributed in southern Brazil, southern Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and north-eastern Argentina (Costa, 2010). The literature indicates that annual fishes, such as Austrolebias species, inhabit temporary wetlands formed during rainy periods and die when the ponds dry out (Costa, 2003(Costa, , 2006.…”

Diet of the Atlantic rainforest killifish Rivulus santensis (Rivulidae, Cyprinodontiformes) in southeastern Brazil

“…Most Rivulidae deserve particular conservation attention, mostly due to their high endemicity, small size of populations, and occurrence in habitats which are extremely sensitive to human pressures (e.g. small coastal‐plain streams and temporary swamps; Costa, 2008a; Ferrer et al., 2008). Considerable effort has been devoted to the description of new species and resolution of taxonomic problems (e.g.…”