Geophagus crocatus
Posté : 30 oct. 2013 12:52
Zootaxa 3731 (2): 279–286
Geophagus crocatus, a new species of geophagine cichlid from the Berbice River, Guyana, South America (Teleostei: Cichlidae)
FRANCES E. HAUSER & HERNÁN LÓPEZ-FERNÁNDEZ
Abstract
We describe a new Geophagus from the Berbice River of Guyana, bringing the total number of described species in the genus to 19, and of Guianese species to six.. Geophagus crocatus, new species, is distinguished from all species of Geophagus outside of the G. surinamensis group by the presence of an incomplete suborbital stripe (vs. complete), and the presence of six lateral bars, with bars 2 and 3 slightly sloping toward each other and fusing dorsally at the base of the dorsal fin. Geophagus crocatus is the only Geophagus species known from the Berbice River, and it is present above and below the Itabru Falls.
Key words: taxonomy, Freshwater, Guiana Shield
Introduction
The South American cichlid genus Geophagus Heckel consists of medium to large geophagine cichlids widely distributed throughout the Amazon and Orinoco basins, in the Guianas, and in parts of northeastern Brazil. Phylogenetic analyses of geophagine cichlids based on morphology (Kullander 1998), DNA sequences (López-Fernández et al. 2005b, 2010), and both types of data combined (López-Fernández et al. 2005a) have corroborated the monophyly of the genus. Currently, Geophagus includes 18 species. In the Guianas, five species of Geophagus have been reported, including Geophagus surinamensis Bloch, Geophagus brokopondo Kullander & Nijssen, Geophagus brachybranchus Kullander & Nijssen, Geophagus camopiensis Pellegrin, and Geophagus harreri Gosse (Kullander & Nijssen 1989). These species are part of the Geophagus surinamensis complex (López-Fernández and Taphorn 2004), characterized by deep bodies and heads, a mid-lateral spot, and either an absent suborbital stripe (e.g. G. surinamensis) or a preopercular black mark (e.g. G. brachybranchus). Geophagus species outside the G. surinamensis complex have a complete suborbital stripe (López-Fernández and Taphorn 2004).
Recent field work in Guyana by the Royal Ontario Museum and the University of Guyana has revealed several new species of Geophagus. In this paper we describe a new species of Geophagus from the Berbice River in eastern Guyana.
A++
Yann
Geophagus crocatus, a new species of geophagine cichlid from the Berbice River, Guyana, South America (Teleostei: Cichlidae)
FRANCES E. HAUSER & HERNÁN LÓPEZ-FERNÁNDEZ
Abstract
We describe a new Geophagus from the Berbice River of Guyana, bringing the total number of described species in the genus to 19, and of Guianese species to six.. Geophagus crocatus, new species, is distinguished from all species of Geophagus outside of the G. surinamensis group by the presence of an incomplete suborbital stripe (vs. complete), and the presence of six lateral bars, with bars 2 and 3 slightly sloping toward each other and fusing dorsally at the base of the dorsal fin. Geophagus crocatus is the only Geophagus species known from the Berbice River, and it is present above and below the Itabru Falls.
Key words: taxonomy, Freshwater, Guiana Shield
Introduction
The South American cichlid genus Geophagus Heckel consists of medium to large geophagine cichlids widely distributed throughout the Amazon and Orinoco basins, in the Guianas, and in parts of northeastern Brazil. Phylogenetic analyses of geophagine cichlids based on morphology (Kullander 1998), DNA sequences (López-Fernández et al. 2005b, 2010), and both types of data combined (López-Fernández et al. 2005a) have corroborated the monophyly of the genus. Currently, Geophagus includes 18 species. In the Guianas, five species of Geophagus have been reported, including Geophagus surinamensis Bloch, Geophagus brokopondo Kullander & Nijssen, Geophagus brachybranchus Kullander & Nijssen, Geophagus camopiensis Pellegrin, and Geophagus harreri Gosse (Kullander & Nijssen 1989). These species are part of the Geophagus surinamensis complex (López-Fernández and Taphorn 2004), characterized by deep bodies and heads, a mid-lateral spot, and either an absent suborbital stripe (e.g. G. surinamensis) or a preopercular black mark (e.g. G. brachybranchus). Geophagus species outside the G. surinamensis complex have a complete suborbital stripe (López-Fernández and Taphorn 2004).
Recent field work in Guyana by the Royal Ontario Museum and the University of Guyana has revealed several new species of Geophagus. In this paper we describe a new species of Geophagus from the Berbice River in eastern Guyana.
A++
Yann