ABSTRACT
A recent study based on genomic data by Roxo et al. (2019) provided a phylogeny of the Loricariidae, the largest catfish family and second largest Neotropical fish family with approximately 1,000 species. The study represents a valuable and innovative contribution for understanding higher-level relationships within the family. The phylogenetic tree inferred by Roxo et al. (2019) thoroughly corroborates the monophyly and relationships of most currently accepted subfamilies of Loricariidae, based on a fair taxon sampling (nearly 14% of the species in the family) representing most genera of each but one of the subfamilies, the Lithogeninae, the sister-group of the remaining members of the family (Pereira & Reis, 2017; Reis et al., 2017). In addition to a hypothesis of relationships, Roxo et al. (2019) also proposed a series of lower-level taxonomic changes, which are deemed premature considering that the taxonomic sampling of the study targeted higher-level clades, and go against one of the pillars of biological classification: nomenclatural stability (e.g., Heterick & Majer, 2018; Beninger & Backeljau, 2019). Here we (1) discuss implications of inadequate taxonomic sampling as a basis for changes in classification of species; (2) explain why the taxonomic sampling design of Roxo et al. (2019) is inadequate for the proposed nomenclatural changes; and (3) advocate that changes to classifications must be grounded on phylogenies with dense sampling of taxa at the relevant level.
Subject(s)
Catfishes , Animals , PhylogenyABSTRACT
A new species of Otocinclus (Loricariidae) is described from the Rio Juruena, a right bank tributary of the Rio Tapajós system in Mato Grosso State, central Brazil. The new taxon can be distinguished from its congeners by the possession of an ocular operculum and by a complete lateral line. Additionally, the new species is distinguished by having a dorsal trunk coloration composed of a set of distinct oval dark blotches and by a caudal spot.
Subject(s)
Catfishes/anatomy & histology , Catfishes/classification , Animals , Brazil , Female , Species SpecificityABSTRACT
A new species of Pareiorhaphis is described from the upper Rio Doce basin. The description is based on a series of specimens recently collected in small headwater tributaries to the Rio Guanhães, a tributary of the Rio Santo Antonio, left bank of the Rio Doce in Minas Gerais State, eastern Brazil. Pareiorhaphis vetula, new species, is a small loricariid catfish with dark brown spots irregularly scattered over a brown background on the dorsal surface of body and along flanks. The new species differs from all other Pareiorhaphis species by having the maxillary barbel completely adnate to the lower lip and by adult males possessing a particularly elongate, sharply pointed, conical urogenital papilla. In addition, Pareiorhaphis vetula is further distinguished from most congeners by having a shorter pelvic-fin spine, or by possessing more numerous premaxillary teeth, and by lacking a dorsal-fin spinelet. A comparison with congeners P. nasuta, P. scutula and P. proskynita, which also occur in headwater streams of the Rio Doce basin is also presented.
Subject(s)
Catfishes/classification , Animal Distribution/physiology , Animals , Brazil , Catfishes/anatomy & histology , Catfishes/physiology , Female , Male , Rivers , Species SpecificityABSTRACT
Pareiorhaphis garapia, new species, is described based on specimens collected in the headwaters of the Arroio Garapiá, Rio Maquiné basin, a coastal drainage of Rio Grande do Sul State, southern Brazil. The new species is distinguished from all other Pareiorhaphis species in having the nuchal plate covered by thick skin, the exposed posterior process of the cleithrum comparatively narrow, and the last segment of the preopercular ramus of the latero-sensory canal reduced to an ossified tubule. The absence of a dorsal-fin spinelet, the reduced number of plates in the dorsal and mid-dorsal series of lateral plates, and morphometric traits also distinguish the new species from its congeners. The restricted geographic distribution of P. garapia, endemic to a headwater stream of the Rio Maquiné basin, and the syntopic occurrence of P. nudulus are discussed.
Subject(s)
Catfishes/classification , Animal Distribution , Animal Structures/anatomy & histology , Animal Structures/growth & development , Animals , Body Size , Brazil , Catfishes/anatomy & histology , Catfishes/growth & development , Female , Male , Organ SizeABSTRACT
Otothyropsis polyodon, sp. n., and O. biamnicus, sp. n., two new species of loricariid catfishes are described from the rio Paraná basin. Otothyropsis biamnicus and O. polyodon differ from two other Otothyropsis by having a longer caudal peduncle, middle series of lateral plates complete and with higher number of plates, and the anterior margin of the mesethmoid not covered by median rostral plate ventrally. The new species differ from each other in that O. polyodon have a longer pectoral-fin spine and a greater number of premaxillary and dentary teeth. Otothyropsis polyodon was collected in the rio Verde, tributary to the upper rio Paraná basin, and O. biamnicus is found in both the rio Iguaçu and rio Tibagi basins. A key for the species of Otothyropsis is presented and their relationships and geographical distributions are discussed.
