A New Species of Tiger Pleco Panaqolus (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the Xingu Basin, Brazil

Abstract

Panaqolus tankei is described from the Xingu River, Brazil. The new species is diagnosed from P. albomaculatus, P. dentex, P. nix, P. nocturnus, and P. koko by its color pattern consisting of dark and light diagonal bars on the body and bands on the fins (vs. body and fins without bars or bands); from P. albivermis, P. maccus, and P. purusiensis by the width of the dark bars being more or less the same of the light bars (vs. dark bars at least two or three times wider than light bars) and from P. changae by the absence of vermiculation on the head (vs. vermiculation present on head). The new species differs from P. gnomus by the orientation of the bars from posterodorsal to anteroventral direction (vs. anterodorsal to posteroventral direction), and from P. claustellifer by the orientation of the bands in the dorsal fin that are not parallel to the margin (vs. parallel to the margin). The barcoding region (COI) was sequenced for the new species, sequences were deposited in GenBank and were compared with congeners from other drainages. With regard to the current construction of a hydroelectric power plant (a so-called mega dam) in the Xingu River, herewith we increase knowledge of the river Xingu’s ichthyofauna and, thus improve the assessment of the impacts of that construction on the river.

Cytogenetic Analysis of <b><i>Panaqolus tankei</i></b> Cramer &amp; Sousa, 2016 (Siluriformes, Loricariidae), an Ornamental Fish Endemic to Xingu River, Brazil

“…However, the lack of cytogenetic data for many groups impairs a comprehensive understanding of the chromosomal relationships and the impact of chromosomal changes on their evolutionary history. Here, we present for the first time the karyotype of Panaqolus tankei Cramer & Sousa, 2016. We focused on the chromosomal characterization, using conventional and molecular cytogenetic techniques to unravel the evolutionary trends of this tribe.…”

“…The charismatic "clown plecos" from the genus Panaqolus Isbrücker & Schraml, 2001 (Ancistrini, Hypostominae) comprise 11 species, widespread along the Amazon River sub-basins [Cramer and Py-Daniel, 2015]. Panaqolus tankei Cramer & Sousa, 2016 was described from Xingu River, Brazil [Cramer and Melo de Sousa, 2016], where it is highly exploited for the international aquarium trade [Lujan et al, 2017]. This species differs from its congeneric species by possessing dark and light bars of similar width [Cramer and Melo de Sousa, 2016], but differences in relation to some closely related species may be subtle (e.g., Panaqolus claustellifer Armbruster, Sousa & Tan, 2016 from the Negro River basin) [Tan et al, 2016].…”

“…Panaqolus tankei Cramer & Sousa, 2016 was described from Xingu River, Brazil [Cramer and Melo de Sousa, 2016], where it is highly exploited for the international aquarium trade [Lujan et al, 2017]. This species differs from its congeneric species by possessing dark and light bars of similar width [Cramer and Melo de Sousa, 2016], but differences in relation to some closely related species may be subtle (e.g., Panaqolus claustellifer Armbruster, Sousa & Tan, 2016 from the Negro River basin) [Tan et al, 2016]. Interestingly, refined molecular analyses among the Ancistrini tribe suggest that Panaqolus is more closely related to Peckoltia Miranda Ribeiro, 1912 andScobinancistrus Isbrücker &Nijssen, 1989 than to Panaque Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1889 species [Lujan et al, 2017;Roxo et al, 2019], as previously hypothesized due to the presence of few comb-shaped teeth in the premaxillary and dental bones in Panaque and Panaqolus [Chockley and Armbruster, 2002;Lujan et al, 2010].…”

Reproductive biology of the tiger pleco Panaqolus tankei (Loricariidae) in a lentic system of the Amazon Basin

“…In the Amazon region, members of the catfish family Loricariidae breed in lakes and fast‐flowing rivers (Armbruster, ). The tiger pleco Panaqolus tankei Cramer & Sousa is harvested for the ornamental fish trade (Ramos et al . , ) (exporter codes L. 002 and L. 398) and is common in Lake Bolonha (Vasconcelos & Souza, ) and along the river banks in the lower River Xingu (Cramer & Sousa, ).…”

“…The tiger pleco Panaqolus tankei Cramer & Sousa is harvested for the ornamental fish trade (Ramos et al . , ) (exporter codes L. 002 and L. 398) and is common in Lake Bolonha (Vasconcelos & Souza, ) and along the river banks in the lower River Xingu (Cramer & Sousa, ). The present study investigated the reproductive biology of P. tankei , to determine the breeding season, spawning patterns, fecundity and oocyte diameter in a lentic environment.…”