The crystalline waters of the Bodoquena Plateau revealed Hypostomus froehlichi (Siluriformes: Loricariidae), a new armored catfish from the rio Paraguay basin in Brazil

Abstract

The menaced and poorly-known waters of the Bodoquena Plateau revealed a new resident, the stunning Hypostomus froehlichi sp. n., a large-sized armored catfish, which is finally described after more than twenty years since its discovery. The Bodoquena Plateau is drained by the rio Paraguay basin, and is located in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. The new species differs from its congeners on the Bodoquena crystalline waters by having teeth with morphological and numerical variation in adult specimens. There is a continuous range of specimens having about 20 thick and worn teeth to specimens having about 50 thin teeth with intact crowns and lanceolate main cusps. Additional diagnostic characters are: dentaries angled more than 90 degrees, dark blotches, one plate bordering supraoccipital, moderate keel along dorsal series of plates, usually two rows of blotches per interradial membrane on dorsal, pectoral and ventral fins, and by attaining comparatively large size. Hypostomus froehlichi seems to be endemic to the area of the Bodoquena Plateau, in rivers draining to the rio Miranda. The description of the new species reveals a potential conservation flagship species as it is one of the most seen and documented fish by visitors and divers in the clear waters from the touristic, though menaced, Bonito region in Brazil.

Sexual dimorphism in an invasive population of suckermouth armored catfish: Implications for management

“…This example was that of larger body sizes among males for H. hermanni, as documented by Nomura and Mueller (1980). Dimorphism within the genus Hypostomus is apparently uncommon given that studies have concluded a lack of sexual dimorphism for H. commersonii (Goulart and Verani 1992), H. affins and H. luetkeni (Mazzoni and Caramaschi 1995), H. velhochico (Zawadzki et al 2017), H. subcarinatus (Zawadzki et al 2019), and H. froehlichi (Zawadzki et al 2021). Our work supports the pattern of larger body size in males for congeneric H. hermanni documented by Nomura and Mueller (1980) as well as the >100-year-old report by Miranda Ribeiro (1918) of enlarged fins in males of H. albopunctatus (Zawadzki et al 2020).…”

“…2019), and H. froehlichi (Zawadzki et al. 2021). Our work supports the pattern of larger body size in males for congeneric H. hermanni documented by Nomura and Mueller (1980) as well as the >100‐year‐old report by Miranda Ribeiro (1918) of enlarged fins in males of H. albopunctatus (Zawadzki et al.…”