43 research outputs found
Two new, remarkably colored species of the Neotropical catfish genus Cetopsorhamdia Eigenmann & Fisher, 1916 (Siluriformes, Heptapteridae) from Chapada dos Parecis, western Brazil, with an assessment of the morphological characters bearing on their phylogenetic relationships
Two new species of heptapterid catfish genus Cetopsorhamdia are described from close localities in western Brazil, at Chapada dos Parecis, an area with extremely high level of endemism. One species is from the upper Rio Madeira system, RondĂŽnia State, and the other from the upper Rio TapajĂłs system, Mato Grosso State. The two species are diagnosed, among several other features, by their markedly distinctive color patterns, with the former having well-defined quadrangular marks in trunk flanks while the latter bearing irregular, vertical bars along the trunk. The monophyly of Cetopsorhamdia is discussed, with two putative synapomorphies being proposed to support the genus. Potentially informative morphological characters to resolve the internal relationships of the genus are presented and discussed. Despite the striking external differences between the two species herein described, they are found to likely form a clade
Anatomy and phylogenetic relationships of a new catfish species from northeastern Argentina with comments on the phylogenetic relationships of the genus Rhamdella Eigenmann and Eigenmann 1888 (Siluriformes, Heptapteridae)
Rhamdella cainguae, a new species of the family Heptapteridae is described from the Arroyo Cuña-PirĂș, a tributary of the RĂo ParanĂĄ, in the subtropical forest of Misiones, northeastern Argentina. The presence of a large differentiated ovoid area on the supraorbital laterosensory canal along the frontal-sphenotic boundary, delimited by the slender dorsal walls of the bones, and with no foramen for a laterosensory branch, is an autapomorphy for R. cainguae. A detailed description of the skeleton and laterosensory system of R. cainguae is provided. The genus Rhamdella is rediagnosed on the basis of three autapomorphies: a very large opening in the frontal for the exit of the s6 (epiphyseal) branch of the supraorbital laterosensory canal (reversed in R. rusbyi), a large optic foramen, and a dark stripe along the lateral surface of the body (reversed in R. rusbyi). Rhamdella is considered to be the sister group of a large heptapterid clade composed of the Nemuroglanis sub-clade plus the genera Brachyglanis, Gladioglanis, Leptorhamdia, and Myoglanis. Rhamdella is herein restricted to five valid species: R. aymarae, R. cainguae, R. eriarcha, R. longiuscula, and R. rusbyi. A sister group relationship between R. aymarae and R. rusbyi is supported by three synapomorphies. Rhamdella cainguae shares 12 apomorphic features with R. eriarcha and R. longiuscula.Fil: Bockmann, FlĂĄvio. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Miquelarena, Amalia Maria. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Centro CientĂfico TecnolĂłgico Conicet - la Plata. Instituto de LimnologĂa "dr. Raul A. Ringuelet". Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Cs.naturales y Museo. Instituto de LimnologĂa; Argentin
The earliest iconographic record of Gobioides broussonnetii La CepĂšde, 1800 (Gobiiformes: Gobiidae): the species identity of the âCaramuruâ paintings of Dutch Brazil (1624-1654)
During the Mauritian period of Dutch Brazil (1637â1644), a great deal of information about the biota of northeastern Brazil was obtained, consisting of both written records and paintings. Among them is an eel-like fish, depicted in two paintings labeled âCaramurĂ»â and âCaramuruâ, whose taxonomic identity is controversial. One of them, attributed to Albert Eckhout, is part of the Theatrum Rerum Naturalium Brasiliae collection, stored at the Jagiellonian University Library, in Poland. This painting was possibly a model for the second âCaramuruâ, of unknown authorship, which is deposited at the Archive of the Russian Academy of Sciences. These paintings are doubtfully identified as the snake eel Echiophis intertinctus (Ophichthidae, Anguilliformes), a proposal likely induced by the vulgar name âcaramuruâ, which is applied to muraenids and ophichthids in Brazil. After careful examination of these two paintings regarding the anatomical details depicted, we concluded that the fish corresponds, with great certainty, to Gobioides broussonnetii (Gobiidae, Gobiiformes), popularly known as âaimorĂ©â and âtajasicaâ. Furthermore, we suggest the possibility that the written counterpart of these paintings is the description associated with the woodcut of the fish labeled as âTajasicaâ in the Historia Naturalis Brasiliae (Marggraf in de Laet, 1648). The confusion probably stems from mismatches between Georg Marggrafâs descriptions and the images of organisms produced at the time, perhaps before the return of Johan Maurits van Nassau-Siegenâs entourage to Europe. In an attempt to support our conclusions about the identity of that fish, as well as for historical purposes, we also discuss the vernacular names applied to G. broussonnetii and the authorship of the notes made on those paintings
Trichomycterus maracaya, a new catfish from the upper rio ParanĂĄ, southeastern Brazil (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae), with notes on the T. brasiliensis species-complex
Trichomycterus maracaya, a new species of Trichomycteridae, is described from a streamlet in the upper rio ParanĂĄ, Poços de Caldas, State of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. The following putative autapomorphies distinguishes T. maracaya from congeneric species: 1) row of lateral blotches not forming a stripe at any phase during ontogeny; 2) superficial layer of pigmentation of juveniles and large (presumably adults) specimens consisting solely of scattered chromatophores. Furthermore, the new species is characterized by a combination of yellow ground color in life and mottled pattern formed by small to medium-sized, brown, irregularly-coalescent, well-defined deeper-lying blotches, and more superficial dots on the body. Trichomycterus maracaya is assigned to the T. brasiliensis species-complex (which includes T. brasiliensis, T. iheringi, T. mimonha, T. potschi, T. vermiculatus, and several undescribed species apparently endemic to the main river basins draining the Brazilian Shield) based on the presence of: 1) blotches in four longitudinal rows of deeper-lying pigmentation on the trunk large, horizontally-elongated, and well-defined; 2) pectoral fin with I+5-6 rays; 3) separation between the anterior and posterior cranial fontanels by the primordial epiphyseal cartilaginous bar being present only in larger specimens; and 4) pelvic-fin bases very close to each other, sometimes in contact.Trichomycterus maracaya, uma espĂ©cie nova de Trichomycteridae, Ă© descrita de exemplares obtidos num riacho do alto rio ParanĂĄ, Poços de Caldas, Estado de Minas Gerais, sudeste do Brasil. As seguintes supostas autapomorfias distinguem T. maracaya de outras espĂ©cies do gĂȘnero: 1) fileira de manchas laterais que nĂŁo se fundem em listra em nenhuma fase da ontogenia; 2) camada superficial de pigmentação de juvenis e exemplares maiores (supostamente adultos) consistindo somente de cromatĂłforos dispersos. AlĂ©m disso, a nova espĂ©cie Ă© caracterizada pela combinação de coloração de fundo amarela em vida e padrĂŁo mosqueado, formado por manchas castanhas pequenas a mĂ©dias bem definidas e aglutinadas irregularmente, situadas em camada mais profunda do tegumento, alĂ©m de pontos mais superficiais espalhados pelo corpo. Trichomycterus maracaya Ă© aqui designada ao complexo de espĂ©cies T. brasiliensis (que inclui T. brasiliensis, T. iheringi, T. mimonha, T. potschi e T. vermiculatus, alĂ©m de vĂĄrias espĂ©cies nĂŁo descritas, aparentemente endĂȘmicas Ă s bacias dos rios principais que drenam o Escudo Brasileiro), com base em: 1) manchas horizontalmente alongadas, grandes e bem definidas, situadas mais profundamente no tegumento e dispostas em quatro fileiras longitudinais no corpo; 2) nadadeira peitoral com I+5-6 raios; 3) separação entre as fontanelas cranianas anterior e posterior, por barra cartilaginosa primordial da epĂfise, apenas nos exemplares maiores; e 4) bases das nadadeiras pĂ©lvicas muito prĂłximas uma da outra, por vezes em contato.617
A remarkable sand-dwelling fish assemblage from central Amazonia, with comments on the evolution of psammophily in South American freshwater fishes
We studied a specialised assemblage of sand-dwelling fish species from a streamlet in central Amazonia. The five sand-dwelling species comprised 15.2 % of the total number in the streamlet (33 species). Two of the sand-dwellers are daytime foragers, Characidium cf. pteroides (Crenuchidae) and Stauroglanis gouldingi (Trichomycteridae), whereas three ones are night-time foragers, Gymnorhamphichthys rondoni (Rhamphichthyidae), "Imparfinis" pristos and Mastiglanis asopos (Heptapteridae). With the exception of C. cf. pteroides, the remainder species bury in the sand during their resting period. All five species bear a cryptic, sand-colour pattern, and some are translucent, traits which we regard as advantageous both for evasion from predators and for approaching prey (for the daytime foragers). All five species are microphagous carnivores and their foraging tactics range from generalised sit-and-wait (C. cf. pteroides) to active searching for interstitial prey (G. rondoni). A unique "drift-trap" system made up by the extended barbels and filamentous first pectoral-fin rays is employed by M. asopos. We regard the small size and low number of vertebrae (which is functionally expressed by fast displacements in the sand) as additional features advantageous to explore the sand habitat, allowing diving quickly in the substrate to evade predators and to forage for small prey in sand interstices or plant debris. The relationship between morphological and behavioural characters suited to life in sandy substrates is examined under the perspective of the current phylogenies for each group of psammophilous fishes here studied. The mapping of these characters demonstrates that not all of them evolved specifically for strict psammophily. Instead, some of them may represent the final step of a transformation series or synapomorphies of higher hierarchical levels. Several characters linked to psammophily, such as small body, large eyes, and scarce pigmentation are probably paedomorphic traits. We consider that the little variable specific composition of fish sand-dwelling assemblages and the wide (although patchy) geographical distribution of their species in the Amazon are due to the widespread occurrence and low complexity of this specialised habitat. The pre-existence of benthic habits, small size, and the broad distribution of rivers with sandy beds, mainly in the Amazon and Orinoco basins, possibly played a determinant role in the origin and diversification of psammophilous assemblages among freshwater fishes in South America. Copyright © 2006 Sociedade Brasileira de Ictiologia
Phylogenetic relationships of Chanidae (Teleostei: Gonorynchiformes) as impacted by Dastilbe moraesi, from the Sanfranciscana basin, Early Cretaceous of Brazil
Fossil gonorynchiform fishes range from the Lower Cretaceous to the early Miocene, and are represented by a few dozen living
species. The order is currently divided into two major clades: Gonorynchoidei, which includes the families Gonorynchidae
and Kneriidae, and Chanoidei, encompassing a single family, Chanidae, with a single recent species, the Indo-Pacific Chanos
chanos, and several fossil taxa. Chanidae includes some poorly known taxa, such as Dastilbe moraesi, described from the
Aptian (Lower Cretaceous) of the Areado Formation, Sanfranciscana basin, Brazil. This species is currently considered to be
a junior synonym of the type species of its genus, Dastilbe crandalli, from Santana Formation, Aptian, northeastern Brazil.
The analysis of abundant D. moraesi specimens revealed several new morphological features, many of which had previously
been misinterpreted. Dastilbe moraesi was incorporated into a gonorynchiform character matrix as revised and modified for
the Chanidae. We obtained a single most parsimonious tree in which D. moraesi is distinct and phylogenetically apart from D.
crandalli. According our analysis, D. moraesi forms a sister pair with Chanos, a clade which is closely related to Tharrhias,
all composing the tribe ChaniniGonorynchiformes fĂłsseis ocorrem desde do CretĂĄceo inferior ao Mioceno inferior, e sĂŁo representados por alguns
representantes viventes. A ordem estĂĄ dividida atualmente em dois clados principais: Gonorynchoidei, que inclui as famĂlias
Gonorynchidae e Kneriidae, e Chanoidei, compreendendo uma Ășnica famĂlia, Chanidae, com uma Ășnica espĂ©cie vivente,
Chanos chanos, do Indo-PacĂfico, alĂ©m de vĂĄrios representantes fĂłsseis. Chanidae inclui alguns tĂĄxons problemĂĄticos,
tais como Dastilbe moraesi, descrito do Aptiano (Cretåceo Inferior) da Formação Areado, bacia Sanfranciscana, Brasil.
Esta espĂ©cie Ă© atualmente considerada um sinĂŽnimo jĂșnior da espĂ©cie-tipo de seu gĂȘnero, Dastilbe crandalli, da Formação
Santana, Aptiano do nordeste do Brasil. A anĂĄlise de abundante material de D. moraesi revelou vĂĄrias novas caracterĂsticas
anatĂŽmicas, muitas das quais haviam sido previamente mal interpretadas. Dastilbe moraesi foi incorporado em uma matriz
revisada de caracteres da famĂlia Chanidae. NĂłs obtivemos uma Ășnica ĂĄrvore mais parcimoniosa na qual D. moraesi Ă© distinto
e filogeneticamente distante de D. crandalli. De acordo com nossa anĂĄlise, D. moraesi Ă© o grupo-irmĂŁo de Chanos, um clado
intimamente relacionado a Tharrhias, com todos compondo a tribo ChaniniThis study was supported by CNPq (process # 401818/2010-1) and
project CGL2013-42643P, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación de Españ
Dorsolateral head muscles of the catfish families Nematogenyidae and Trichomycteridae (Siluriformes: Loricarioidei): comparative anatomy and phylogenetic analysis
Photography-based taxonomy is inadequate, unnecessary, and potentially harmful for biological sciences
The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(s) deposited in collections should be accepted for publication by scientific journals and allowed by the Code has already been discussed in Zootaxa (Dubois & NemĂ©sio 2007; Donegan 2008, 2009; NemĂ©sio 2009aâb; Dubois 2009; Gentile & Snell 2009; Minelli 2009; Cianferoni & Bartolozzi 2016; Amorim et al. 2016). This question was again raised in a letter supported
by 35 signatories published in the journal Nature (Pape et al. 2016) on 15 September 2016. On 25 September 2016, the following rebuttal (strictly limited to 300 words as per the editorial rules of Nature) was submitted to Nature, which on
18 October 2016 refused to publish it. As we think this problem is a very important one for zoological taxonomy, this text is published here exactly as submitted to Nature, followed by the list of the 493 taxonomists and collection-based
researchers who signed it in the short time span from 20 September to 6 October 2016
Brazilian legislation on genetic heritage harms biodiversity convention goals and threatens basic biology research and education
A new Brachyrhamdia (Siluriformes: Heptapteridae) from Rio JapurĂĄ basin, Brazil, with comments on its phylogenetic affinities, biogeography and mimicry in the genus
Slobodian, Veronica, Bockmann, FlĂĄvio Alicino (2013): A new Brachyrhamdia (Siluriformes: Heptapteridae) from Rio JapurĂĄ basin, Brazil, with comments on its phylogenetic affinities, biogeography and mimicry in the genus. Zootaxa 3717 (1): 1-22, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3717.1.