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Rivulus berovidesi, a new killifish species (Teleostei: Rivulidae) from western Cuba

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Rodet Rodríguez-Silva at University of Oklahoma
Rodet Rodríguez-Silva
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Rivulus berovidesi, a new killifish species, is described from a small stream in Sierra de Cajalbana, northwestern Cuba. It is readily distinguished from Rivulus cylindraceus Poey by the combination of an exclusive color pattern and meristic characters such as a d-type frontal scalation pattern (versus e-type pattern in Rivulus cylindraceus). The current diagnosis of Rivulus berovidesi based on chromatic, morphological and meristic characters is consistent with a recent molecular analysis of this genus in Cuba.
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Accepted by M.R. de Carvalho: 25 Mar. 2015; published: 24 Apr. 2015
ZOOTAXA
ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition)
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Copyright © 2015 Magnolia Press
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Rivulus berovidesi, a new killifish species (Teleostei: Rivulidae) from western
Cuba
RODET RODRIGUEZ SILVA
Instituto de Ecología y Sistemática. Carretera Varona 11835 e/ Oriente y Lindero, La Habana 19, CP 11900, Calabazar, Boyeros, La
Habana, Cuba. E-mail: rodet@ecologia.cu and rodetrodriguezsilva@gmail.com
Abstract
Rivulus berovidesi, a new killifish species, is described from a small stream in Sierra de Cajalbana, northwestern Cuba.
It is readily distinguished from Rivulus cylindraceus Poey by the combination of an exclusive color pattern and meristic
characters such as a d-type frontal scalation pattern (versus e-type pattern in Rivulus cylindraceus). The current diag-
nosis of Rivulus berovidesi based on chromatic, morphological and meristic characters is consistent with a recent mo-
lecular analysis of this genus in Cuba.
Key words: Rivulus berovidesi, frontal scalation pattern, killifish, meristic characters
Introduction
The killifish genus Rivulus Poey, is the most speciose genus of the family Rivulidae including more than 125
valid species occurring in a great diversity of wetlands (Bussing 2002; Costa 2004, 2005; Valdesalici & Schindler
2011). However, based on recent molecular phylogenies, other authors consider that the genus Rivulus (sensu
stricto) comprises less than five valid species (Hrbek et al. 2004; Costa 2011; Eschmeyer 2014). This group is
represented by small oviparous fish (about 20-120 mm standard length) with sexual dimorphism characterized, in
most cases, by the presence of an ocellated spot on the caudal fin of females (Ghedotti & Wiley 2002).
The geographic distribution of these fishes covers Middle and South America, where it ranges from Mexico
to Argentina, although there are some species inhabiting many Caribbean islands (Lasso-Alcala et al. 2006).
Particularly, a recent survey concerning the phylogeography of Cuban Rivulus (Ponce de Leon et al. 2014)
concluded that only one of the two species previously described in this genus (Rivulus cylindraceus Poey
(1860), the type species) inhabited the whole archipelago. However this same work provided solid evidence on
the existence of a different lineage of Rivulus in northwestern Cuba, which constitutes the new species herein
described.
During recent field trips to the mountain system Sierra de Cajalbana, located in northwestern Cuba,
several specimens of this putative new species were observed and collected. In this paper chromatic, meristic
and morphological characters are analyzed to describe this new killifish species.
Material and methods
A total of 23 specimens (11 males and 12 females) of Rivulus berovidesi sp. n. were collected at Sierra de
Cajalbana, Pinar del Rio province, Cuba (Fig. 1). Measurements and counts were made according to Hoedeman
(1959) using a digital caliper (nearest 0.1 mm), under a dissecting microscope. Seven meristic and eight
morphometric variables commonly used in descriptions and revisions of killifish species (Hoedeman 1959;
Costa 2004; Rodriguez 2009; Valdesalici et al. 2011; Valdesalici & Schindler 2011) were measured. The
frontal scalation pattern is described following Hoedeman (1958). All measurements are presented as percentages
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of standard length (SL), except for eye diameter and snout length, which are given as percentage of head length
(HL). Body color patterns for both sexes were also documented.
Institutional abbreviations used: CZACC, Instituto de Ecologia y Sistematica, Cuba; MFP, Museo Felipe Poey,
Universidad de La Habana, Cuba; MNHNCU, Museo Nacional de Historia Natural, Cuba; MCZ, Museum of
Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, USA.
FIGURE 1. Distribution map of Rivulus species from Cuba. Red spots represent distribution of Rivulus cylindraceus and red
triangles represents distribution of Rivulus berovidesi sp. n., 1 Sierra de Cajalbana (ty pe locality); 2 Rio Camarones.
Rivulus berovidesi, new species
(Figs. 2–6)
Holotype. CZACC-9.83, adult male, 37.3 mm SL, Sierra de Cajalbana, Pinar del Rio province, Cuba, 220 46’
31.7’’N, -830 26’ 37.7’’W, 26 February, 2014. R. Rodriguez Silva.
Paratypes. All from Sierra de Cajalbana, Pinar del Rio province, Cuba. Same date and collector as holotype.
CZACC-9.84, three males, 31.1–34.7 mm SL; CZACC-9.85, three females, 36.3–37.9 mm SL; MFP18.00570, two
males 32.2–32.8 mm SL and two females 33.7–34.3 mm SL; MNHN 1457 one male 31.3 mm SL and two
females 31–35.6 mm SL; MZC 171656 and 171657 two males 32.7–37.9 mm SL respectively and MZC
171658 and 171659 two females 31.4–33.5 mm SL respectively.
Diagnosis. Both males and females of Rivulus berovidesi sp.n. are readily distinguished from Rivulus
cylindraceus by the presence of a dark lateral band situated longitudinally along the lateral line, extended
from the posterior margin of the eye to the base of the caudal fin (versus a lack of this dark lateral band in
Rivulus cylindraceus). Dorsal fin slightly shifted to the caudal peduncle in relation to the origin of anal fin (1–3
mm) when compared to Rivulus cylindraceus. Frontal scalation pattern in Rivulus berovidesi sp. n. is d-type
versus e-type pattern in Rivulus cylindraceus (Fig. 2)
Description. Morphometric and meristic data for holotype and 22 paratypes are presented in Tables 1 and
2. Largest examined male 37.9 mm SL; largest examined female 38.0 mm SL. Body subcylindrical anteriorly and
compressed posteriorly. Dorsal profile slightly convex from the snout to the posterior base of dorsal fin.
Ventral profile slightly convex from the lower jaw to the anal fin origin. Both paired and impaired fins rounded
and without filaments. Dorsal fin origin above base of the 5th or 6th anal fin ray. Pectoral fins inserted behind
to the posterior margin of opercles. Pelvic fins are the smallest, reaching anus. Dorsal fin rays 6–9, caudal fin
rays 15–19, anal fin rays 8–11, pelvic fin rays 4–6 and pectoral fin rays 11–14.
Body and head entirely scaled with cycloid scales. Longitudinal series of scales 34–37, transverse series of
scales 9, pre-dorsal scales 21–25. Frontal scalation is d-type pattern. Males of Rivulus berovidesi sp.n. are
yellow and orange ventrally, whereas females are less colored. Figure 3 shows sexual dimorphism in this
species, which includes differences in color of body and fins as well as females characterized by a distinctive
ocellated caudal spot. Females have a diffuse ocellated caudal spot which can extend from the posterior base
of the dorsal fin to the upper margin of the caudal fin.
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TAB L E 1. Morphometric data for holotype and paratypes of Rivulus berovidesi sp. n. Standard length (SL) and
head length (HL) are expressed in millimeters; all other measurements are expressed as percentage of SL except for
eye diameter and snout length, which are given as percentage of HL.
TAB L E 2. Meristic data for holotype and paratypes of Rivulus berovidesi sp. n. Values in parentheses indicate number of
specimens examined with that count.
FIGURE 2. Outline drawings of the frontal scalation patterns of Rivulus from Cuba. A: Rivulus berovidesi sp. n. with a d-
type pattern and B: Rivulus cylindraceus with an e-type pattern. The horizontal broken line indicates the pair of scales with
their margins fully exposed.
Holotype N Paratypes
Morphometric variables Mean Min Max SD
Standard length (mm) 37.3 23 33.8 28.9 37.9 2.5
Pre-dorsal length 68.0 23 70.1 67.3 71.5 1.6
Pre-anal length 60.9 23 61.9 59.5 65.3 1.2
Interdorsal-anal length 7.1 23 8.2 6.8 10.6 1.1
Caudal peduncle depth 13.7 23 12.7 11.1 14.4 0.9
Head length (mm) 10.4 23 9.0 8.1 10.4 0.6
Snout length 28.1 23 30.1 25.9 33.5 2.0
Eye diameter 23.7 23 26.6 23.7 30.0 1.8
Counts Holotype Paratypes (N=23)
Pre-dorsal scales 23 21 (4) 22 (4) 23 (6) 24 (6) 25 (3)
Lateral scales 37 34 (4) 35 (7) 36 (7) 37 (5)
Dorsal rays 7 6 (4) 7 (9) 8 (8) 9 (2)
Caudal rays 19 15 (1) 16 (2) 17 (9) 18 (7) 19 (4)
Anal rays 10 8 (2) 9 (12) 10 (8) 11 (1)
Pelvic rays 5 4 (4) 5 (10) 6 (9)
Pectoral rays 11 11 (10) 12 (9) 13 (2) 14 (2)
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FIGURE 3. Rivulus berovidesi sp. n., life coloration in both sexes in specimens kept in captivity for three months after
collection in the field.
FIGURE 4. Rivulus berovidesi sp. n., life coloration in males (above) and females (below) in specimens just after
collection in the field.
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FIGURE 5. Rivulus berovidesi sp. n., paratype, female, CZACC-9.85, 37.2 mm SL, small stream in Sierra de Cajalbana, Pinar
del Rio province, Cuba.
FIGURE 6. Rivulus berovidesi sp. n., holotype, male, CZACC-9.83, 37.3 mm SL, small stream in Sierra de Cajalbana, Pinar
del Rio province, Cuba.
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Color in life. Males (Fig. 4): Body coloration is greenish or olive-green dorsally. There is a wide dark lateral
band extended from the posterior margin of the eye to the base of the caudal fin. Ventral ground coloration is
yellowish with orange spots reaching the anal fin base. An iridescent blue spot is present behind the margin of
opercle in both sexes. Males have an iridescent olive- green spot on the opercle too. Dorsal fin is greenish, caudal
fin is slightly greenish on its base and more transparent to the edges. Anal fin is spotted in orange in their base
and yellow or yellow- green to the ends. Pelvic fins are yellow and pectoral fins are transparent.
Females (Fig. 4): Body coloration less striking when compared to males. General body coloration brown,
darker dorsally than ventrally. Ventral coloration is paler with some small yellowish spots. There is a narrow dark
lateral band extended from the posterior margin of the eye to the base of the caudal. Diffuse ocellated caudal
spot present which can extends from the posterior base of dorsal fin to the superior margin of caudal fin and
sometimes along the caudal fin base too (Fig. 4 and 5). All fins slightly greenish or transparent.
Color in preserved specimens. Preserved specimens with the typical dark lateral band from the posterior
margin of the eye to the base of caudal fin in both sexes, although slightly paler than living specimens. Ventral
region of the body with a yellowish homogeneous coloration while dorsal region is brownish-gray. Males with
a reticulated pattern on scales above lateral dark band (Fig. 6) while females with the diffuse ocellated caudal
spot extended from the end of dorsal fin to the superior margin of caudal fin (Fig. 5). All fins with a whitish
coloration.
Etymology. The specific name of this new species is given in honor to the Professor Vicente Berovides
Alvarez, professor at the Faculty of Biology, Universidad de la Habana, Cuba in recognition of his life-long
dedication and contribution to train several generations of new researchers in biological sciences.
Distribution and habitat. Rivulus berovidesi sp. n. is known only from northwest mountain system in
Pinar del Rio province. Particularly, in Sierra de Cajalbana (type locality) and Rio Camarones. Both localities
are situated in northwestern Cuba (Fig. 1). This species inhabits small mountain streams with a depth of 30–70
cm approximately and bottom substrate basically composed by stones, sand and dead leaves (Fig. 7). There is
not aquatic vegetation in the area. The streams are clear with pH 7.5 and water temperature 24°C. Other
freshwater fish collected together with Rivulus berovidesi sp. n. were: Gambusia punctata, Girardinus
uninotatus, Girardinus creolus, Girardinus microdactylus, Nandopsis tetracanthus, Agonostomus monticola and
Gobiomorus dormitor.
FIGURE 7. Type locality of Rivulus berovidesi sp. n. Small stream at Sierra de Cajalbana, Pinar del Rio province, Cuba
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Discussion
Diagnosis based on morphological and meristic characters of Rivulus berovidesi sp. n. is consistent with the
results derived from a recent molecular analysis on the phylogeography of Cuban Rivulus (Ponce de Leon et
al. 2014). These authors found that the new species showed 15% cytb and 2.5% CAM-4 sequence divergence
with the species R. cylindraceus, which is more than three times the minimum divergence observed between
cytb sequences of rivulid sister species (April et al. 2011). Additionally, the apparent non-overlapping
geographic distribution of Rivulus cylindraceus and Rivulus berovidesi sp. n. corresponds with the separate
phylogeographic history of both species.
Hoedeman (1958), described a d-type pattern for the frontal scalation in Rivulus cylindraceus. However,
the current work describes a same pattern in Rivulus berovidesi sp. n. versus a frontal scalation e-type pattern in
Rivulus cylindraceus. In our study, frontal scalation pattern of Rivulus berovidesi is compared with the holotype
of R. cylindraceus (MCZ 6423) and other specimens collected from well determined populations of this species
living in Cuba. Following the examination of frontal scalation carried out in this study and analyzing
Hoedeman’s work, where collection locality given is imprecise, it is probable that the specimens examined by
this author were collected within the distribution range of Rivulus berovidesi sp. n. and thus belonged to this
latter species.
Rivulus berovidesi sp. n. is the first species of Rivulus described from the Cuban archipelago after Rivulus
insulaepinorum (now a synonym of Rivulus cylindraceus; Ponce de Leon et al. 2014). As occurs in some other
Cuban freshwater fish groups, the diversity of rivulids from Cuba is currently underestimated. This constitutes a
potential research subject for its importance in the overall biogeographical landscape and may have significant
impact on the knowledge of freshwater fish from the Caribbean. In addition, ecological studies need to be carried
out to know life-history details of this new species as well as to assess the conservation status of their populations.
Acknowledgements
I thank to Tomas M. Rodriguez-Cabrera for photographs of living and preserved specimens as well as your
revision of the manuscript, Jans Morffe Rodriguez made drawings of frontal scalation patterns and Karsten E.
Hartel (MCZ) sent available photos of the holotype of Rivulus cylindraceus. I thank to The Rufford Foundation
for providing financial support for expeditions (Ref. 12925-2).
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... Por otro lado, es importante señalar que el número de especies de peces de agua dulce ha cambiado con respecto al estudio de Vergara (1992). Algunas de las especies han sido clasificadas como sinonimias de otras (Ponce de León et al., 2014), otras han sido confirmadas (Alvarez-Lajonchere y Alvarez- Lajonchere, 2015;Galván-Quesada et al., 2016) y se han descrito nuevas especies (Rodríguez, 2015). En total, aquí se listan 46 especies, incluidas en 15 familias y 9 órdenes (Anexo 1). ...
... No obstante, en la última década se han incrementado las investigaciones enfocadas en la filogenia molecular y filogeografía del grupo (Lara et al., 2010). Esto ha permitido profundizar el análisis en diferentes géneros como Lucifuga (García- Machado et al., 2011;Hernández et al., 2016), Gambusia (Lemus 2013;Gutiérrez, 2016), Rivulus (Ponce de León et al., 2014;Rodríguez, 2015), Girardinus (Doadrio et al., 2009;Lara et al., 2010) y Atractosteus (Ulmo-Díaz et al., 2016). ...
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... a) Holotype, male; b) Alotype, female. Rodriguez-Silva, 2015. Figure 10. ...
... Rodriguez-Silva, 2015. Figure 10. Picture of the specimen holotype of Rivulus berovidesi Rodriguez-Silva, 2015. Guitart, D. J. 1975;Rodríguez et al., 1984. ...
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Full-text available
  • Jul 2022
Recibido: 22 de febrero del 2022. Aceptado para publicación: 17 de mayo A contribution is made to the taxonomic knowledge, composition and distribution of the fish that inhabit the freshwater systems of the province of Holguin. The sampling period was from 2019 to 2021 and was performed at 189 sites. A total of 43 fish species were recorded, including in 13 orders, 20 families and 36 genera. Twenty-six species that inhabit freshwater all their lives and 11 that venture into the marine environment were identified. Nine endemic species were registered, 11 introduced and 23 autochthonous, within the latter there are seven marine species that venture into fresh or brackish waters at some period of their life. The genera that were recorded in the greatest number of sites were: Gambusia (137), Poecilia (111), Nandopsis (109) and Oreochromis (108). The species with the greatest distribution are Poecilia reticulata, Nandopsis tetracanthus and Gambusia puncticulata present in 111, 95 and 88 sites, respectively.
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... Ponce de consideraron para esta región a una sola especie amenazada (Girardinus cubensis), aunque en el Libro Rojo de los Vertebrados de Cuba (González Alonso et al., 2012), se señalan los tres endémicos locales mencionados con anterioridad, así como a Rivulus cylindraceus que es endémico del occidente de Cuba (Ponce de León et al., 2014) y a R. berovidesi que se descubrió posteriormente en la Sierra de Cajálbana (Rodríguez Silva, 2015). Por lo tanto, en Guaniguanico se registran seis especies amenazadas. ...
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... Similar geographic distributions have been found in other animals such as frogs Rodríguez et al., 2010), toads (Alonso et al., 2012), anoles (Glor et al., 2004), and plants such as Leucocroton (Jestrow et al., 2012). Interestingly, the geographic distributions of Gambusia punctata and G. rhizophorae match with those of Rivulus cylindraceus and R. berovidesi (Ponce de León et al., 2014;Rodríguez, 2015b), and the phylogeographic distribution of mtDNA haplotypes of G. punctata and R. cylindraceus are very similar (Ponce de León et al., 2014). The finding that the haplotypes distinguishing western and eastern haplogroups in G. puntata co-occur in La Siguanea (Isla de la Juventud), raised the hypothesis that G. punctata and G. rhizophorae have diverged in allopatry, the first within Isla de la Juventud and has dispersed later to the main island as in the case of R. cylindraceus (Ponce de León et al., 2014). ...
Phylogeographic evidence that the distribution of cryptic euryhaline species in the Gambusia punctata species group in Cuba was shaped by the archipelago geological history
Article
  • Dec 2019
The main drivers of diversification of freshwater fishes in Cuba are not yet well understood. For example, salt tolerance was thought as the main factor involved in the diversification of Gambusia punctata species group in this archipelago. However, evidence from a recent DNA barcoding survey suggested the presence of cryptic species and no correlation between species delimitation and level of salinity. In this study, we analyzed the cryptic diversification of G. punctata species group in Cuba, based on a comprehensive sampling of its distribution and including habitats with different salinity levels. We evaluated the patterns of molecular divergence of the samples by sequencing a set of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) regions and genotyping nine nuclear microsatellite loci. We also used cytochrome b gene (cytb) partial sequences and these microsatellite loci to analyze population structure inside putative species. Five mtDNA well-differentiated haplogroups were found, four of them also identified by the analysis of the microsatellite polymorphism which corresponds to two already recognized species, G. punctata, and G. rhizophorae, and three putative new species. The extent of hybrid zones between these groups is also described. In each group, populations inhabiting environments with contrasting salinity levels were identified, indicating a generalized trait not specific to G. rhizophorae. The geographic distribution of the groups suggested a strong association with major relict territories of the Cuban Archipelago that was periodically joined or split-up by changes in seawater levels and land uplifts. Salinity tolerance might have facilitated sporadic and long-distance oversea dispersal but did not prevent speciation in the Cuban archipelago.
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... Similar geographic distributions have been found in other animals such as frogs Rodríguez et al., 2010), toads (Alonso et al., 2012), anoles (Glor et al., 2004), and plants such as Leucocroton (Jestrow et al., 2012). Interestingly, the geographic distributions of Gambusia punctata and G. rhizophorae match with those of Rivulus cylindraceus and R. berovidesi (Ponce de León et al., 2014;Rodríguez, 2015b), and the phylogeographic distribution of mtDNA haplotypes of G. punctata and R. cylindraceus are very similar (Ponce de León et al., 2014). The finding that the haplotypes distinguishing western and eastern haplogroups in G. puntata co-occur in La Siguanea (Isla de la Juventud), raised the hypothesis that G. punctata and G. rhizophorae have diverged in allopatry, the first within Isla de la Juventud and has dispersed later to the main island as in the case of R. cylindraceus (Ponce de León et al., 2014). ...
Phylogeographic evidence that the distribution of cryptic euryhaline species in the Gambusia punctata species group in Cuba was shaped by the archipelago geological history
Preprint
Full-text available
  • Dec 2019
The main drivers of diversification of freshwater fishes in Cuba are not yet well understood. For example, salt tolerance was thought as the main factor involved in the diversification of Gambusia punctata species group in this archipelago. However, evidence from a recent DNA barcoding survey suggested the presence of cryptic species and no correlation between species delimitation and level of salinity. In this study, we analyzed the cryptic diversification of G. punctata species group in Cuba, based on a comprehensive sampling of its distribution and including habitats with different salinity levels. We evaluated the patterns of molecular divergence of the samples by sequencing a set of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) regions and genotyping nine nuclear microsatellite loci. We also used cytochrome b gene (cytb) partial sequences and these microsatellite loci to analyze population structure inside putative species. Five mtDNA well-differentiated haplogroups were found, four of them also identified by the analysis of the microsatellite polymorphism which corresponds to two already recognized species, G. punctata, and G. rhizophorae, and three putative new species. The extent of hybrid zones between these groups is also described. In each group, populations inhabiting environments with contrasting salinity levels were identified, indicating a generalized trait not specific to G. rhizophorae. The geographic distribution of the groups suggested a strong association with major relict territories of the Cuban Archipelago that was periodically joined or split-up by changes in seawater levels and land uplifts. Salinity tolerance might have facilitated sporadic and long-distance oversea dispersal but did not prevent speciation in the Cuban archipelago.
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Diminazene aceturate, an angiotensin-converting enzyme II activator, prevents gastric mucosal damage in mice: Role of the angiotensin-(1-7)/Mas receptor axis
Article
  • May 2016
The angiotensin (Ang) II converting enzyme (ACE II) pathway has recently been shown to be associated with several beneficial effects in various organisms, including gastroprotection. ACE II is responsible for converting Ang II into an active peptide, Ang-(1-7), which in turn binds the Mas receptor. Recent studies have shown that diminazene aceturate (Dize) a trypanocidal used in animals, activates ACE II. Thus, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the gastroprotective effects of Dize via the ACE II/Ang-(1-7)/Mas receptor pathway against gastric lesions induced by ethanol and acetic acid in mice. The results showed that Dize could promote gastric protection via several mechanisms, including increased levels of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory factors (e.g., decreasing tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-6 expression and reducing myeloperoxidase activity), maturation of collagen fibers, and promotion of re-epithelialization and regeneration of gastric tissue in different injury models. Thus, Dize represents a novel potential gastroprotective agent.
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Rivulus albae, a new species of killifish (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae) from northeastern Brazil
Article
Full-text available
  • Jun 2011
Rivulus albae, new species, from northeastern Brazil, is described. It is a member of the subgenus Melanorivulus and distinguished from all other species of this assemblage having brown oblique bars on the entire flank often form chevron-like marks with a posterior vertex and differs from R. decoratus by having less scales on lateral series and more branchiostegal and anal fin rays.
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Catalog of Fishes: Genera, Species, References
Book
Full-text available
  • Apr 2016
The Catalog of Fishes covers more than 61,700 species and subspecies, over 11,000 genera and subgenera, and includes in excess of 34,000 bibliographic references. Entries for species, for example, consist of species/subspecies name, genus, author, date, publication, pages, figures, type locality, location of type specimen(s), current status (with references), family/subfamily, and important publication, taxonomic, or nomenclatural notes. Nearly all original descriptions have been examined, and much effort has gone into determining the location of type specimens. Online version: http://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/ichthyology/catalog/fishcatmain.asp
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Rivulus sape, a new species of killifish (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae) from the Paragua River system, Caroní River drainage, Guyana Shield, Venezuela
Article
Full-text available
  • Jul 2006
  • ZOOTAXA
A new species, Rivulus sape, is described from two tributaries of the upper Paragua River, Caroní River drainage, of the Guyana Shield in Venezuela. It is a small (all specimens examined less than 50 mm SL), apparently non-annual species that is distinguished from congeners in having the dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins short; adult males with a truncate caudal fin with the upper and lower borders black; and an iridescent blue, ovate spot on sides of the body above the pectoral fins. Neither adults nor juveniles have an ocellus at the dorsal junction of the caudal peduncle and caudal fin. Only one contact organ per scale on some scales along the sides of the body was observed.
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Rivulus duckensis (Teleostei; Cyprinodontiformes): New Species from the Tarumã Basin of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil, and Its Relationship to Other Neotropical Rivulidae
Article
Full-text available
  • Aug 2004
A new killifish species, Rivulus duckensis, is described from the Reserva Adolpho Ducke, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. It is distinguished from other central Amazonian Rivulus species by maximum body size, adult color pattern, habitat preference and mitochondrial DNA sequences. Based on the phylogenetic analysis of molecular sequence data, our best hypothesis suggests that R. duckensis is sister taxon to a clade of Rivulus species occurring in the upper Río Orinoco basin, Amazonas state, Venezuela and Rivulus rectocaudatus, Amazonas department, Peru.
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Rivulus kirovskyi, a new killifish from the central Amazon, Brazil (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae)
Article
Full-text available
  • Mar 2004
  • NEOTROP ICHTHYOL
Rivulus kirovskyi, new species, from the central Amazon, lower rio Negro drainage, northern Brazil, is described. It is a member of an assemblage that includes R. amanapira, R. atratus, R. ornatus, R. rectocaudatus, R. romeri, R. tecminae, and R. uakti, and is diagnosed by a unique pattern of frontal squamation and a derived color pattern of the infraorbital region. Relationships of the new species with other taxa of the group are unclear at the present. It is similar to R. atratus, R. ornatus, and R. romeri in having an apomorphic reduction of anal-fin rays and by the absence of caudal spot in females, and similar to R. amanapira, R. rectocaudatus, R. romeri, R. tecminae, and R. uakti, by the absence of preopercular canal and dermosphenotic. Rivulus kirovskyi differs from all other species of the group by its unique color pattern of the caudal fin in males. Rivulus kirovskyi, espécie nova, da Amazônia central, drenagem do baixo rio Negro, é descrita. Ela é um membro de um agrupamento que inclui R. amanapira, R. atratus, R. ornatus, R. rectocaudatus, R. romeri, R. tecminae ,e R. uakti ,e é diagnosticado pelo padrão exclusivo de escamação frontal e um padrão de colorido derivado da região infra-orbital. Relações de parentesco da nova espécie com outros táxons do grupo não são presentemente claras. Ela é semelhante a R. atratus, R. ornatus e R. romeri por possuir uma redução apomórfica de raios da nadadeira anal e pela ausência de mancha caudal em fêmeas, e semelhante a R. amanapira, R. rectocaudatus, R. romeri, R. tecminae, e R. uakti, pela ausência de canal pré- opercular e de dermosfenótico. Rivulus kirovskyi difere de todas as outras espécies do grupo pelo padrão de colorido exclusivo da nadadeira caudal em machos.
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Seven new species of the killifish genus Rivulus (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae) from the Paraná, Paraguay and upperAraguaia river basins, central Brazil
Article
Full-text available
  • Mar 2005
  • NEOTROP ICHTHYOL
Sete espécies novas do grupo Rivulus punctatus coletadas durante estudos de campo recentes no Brasil central são descritas. Rivulus dapazi sp. n., da drenagem do alto rio Correntes, bacia do rio Paraguai, é diagnosticada por um padrão de colorido exclusivo das nadadeiras anal e caudal em machos; R. cyanopterus sp. n., da drenagem do alto rio São Lourenço, bacia do rio Paraguai, é diagnosticada por um padrão de colorido exclusivo da nadadeira anal em ambos sexos; R. rossoi sp. n., da drenagem do rio Inhanduí, bacia do rio Paraná, é diagnosticada por um padrão de colorido exclusivo da nadadeira caudal em machos e número reduzido de rastros branquiais no primeiro arco branquial; R. litteratus sp. n., da drenagem do alto rio Araguaia, é diagnosticada por um padrão de colorido exclusivo do flanco em machos e da nadadeira caudal em fêmeas; R. rutilicaudus sp. n., da drenagem do rio Verde em Goiás, bacia do rio Paraná, é diagnosticada por um padrão exclusivo da nadadeira caudal em fêmeas; R. scalaris sp. n., das drenagens do rios Sucuruí, Aporé, Correntes e Taquari, bacia do rio Paraná, é diagnosticada por um padrão de colorido exclusivo do flanco em machos; e, R. egens sp. n., da drenagem do alto rio Verde no Mato Grosso do Sul, bacia do rio Paraná, se distingue por uma combinação de escamação frontal com padrão E e ausência de marcas vermelhas na nadadeira caudal em machos. Combinações de outros padrões de colorido e características morfológicas, incluindo número de escamas da série longitudinal, número de raios das nadadeiras dorsal, anal, caudal e peitoral, posição relativa da origem da nadadeira dorsal e raios da nadadeira anal, e número de vértebras, são também úteis para identificar as novas espécies, mas relações de parentesco entre elas são ainda desconhecidas. Uma chave para identificação das espécies de Rivulus da bacia do rio Paraná-Paraguai e de cabeceiras adjacentes é fornecida.
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Phylogenetic position and taxonomic status of Anablepsoides, Atlantirivulus, Cynodonichthys, Laimosemion and Melanorivulus (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae)
Article
  • Sep 2011
  • ICHTHYOL EXPLOR FRES
A maximum parsimony analysis of a combined set of mitochondrial and morphological data available in the literature for 33 rivuline taxa and three outgroups confirms Rivulus as a paraphyletic assemblage. In order to adjust a generic classification to our present phylogenetic knowledge on rivuline relationships, the following taxonomic changes are proposed: Rivulus, restricted to two species endemic to Cuba, is hypothesized to be the most basal rivuline lineage, distinguished from all other non-annual rivulines by having all hypurals fused into a single plate, neural prezygapophysis of caudal vertebrae rudimentary, fourth ceratobranchial teeth absent, about 50 % of the anterior portion of the caudal fin covered by scales, four neuromasts on the anterior supraorbital series, and a black round spot with white margin on the dorsoposterior portion of the caudal peduncle in females; Anablepsoides, Atlantirivulus, Laimosemion, Melanorivulus and Cynodonichthys, previously classified as subgenera of Rivulus, are considered as valid genera; Laimosemion, including 24 species from northern South America, con-stitutes the sister group to a clade comprising Melanorivulus, Cynodonichthys, Anablepsoides, Atlantirivulus, and all annual rivuline genera, which is supported by a well-developed dorsal process of the urohyal and an expanded lateral articular facet of the first hypobranchial; Melanorivulus, comprising 34 species from central and northeast-ern South America, Cynodonichthys with 27 species from Central America and Trans-Andean South America, Anablepsoides with 42 species from northern and northeastern South America and Smaller Antilles, and Atlanti-rivulus, with 11 species endemic to the eastern Brazilian coastal plains are diagnosed by combinations of mor-phological characters, including osteology, cephalic laterosensory system and colour patterns.
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