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Record of Anablepsoides christinae (Huber, 1992) (Teleostei:
Cyprinodontiformes) from the upper Beni river basin in Bolivia
Registro de Anablepsoides christinae (Huber, 1992) (Teleostei:
Cyprinodontifornes) de la cuenca alta del río Beni en Bolivia
Heinz A. Drawert
Museo de Historia Natural Noel Kempff Mercado, Área Zoología de Vertebrados,
Sección Ictiología. Av. Irala 565, Santa Cruz de la Sierra – Bolivia.
Fundación Killifish, representante Bolivia, Cond. Villa Borghese C6 M2,
Santa Cruz de la Sierra – Bolivia.
Registro ORCID: 0000-0002-8351-2495
h.a.drawert@gmail.com.
The genus Anablepsoides Huber, 1992 is one of the 24 valid genera that compose the
subfamily Rivulinae Myers, 1925, of the family Rivulidae Myers, 1925 (Fricke et al. 2022a),
and currently comprises 61 species (Fricke et al. 2022b). Initially the species of this genus
were included in Ruvulus Poey, 1860 until Costa (2011) elevated five of its subgenera to genus
level, and proposed the tribe Melanorivulini Costa, 2011 to group four of them
(Anablepsoides, Atlantirivulus Costa, 2008, Cynodonichthys Meek, 1904 and Melanorivulus
Costa, 2006) into one clade. The proposal of Costa (2011) was not accepted without some
controversy (Huber 2012) and skepticism as it is weakly supported (Costa 2011, Valdesalici
& Schindler 2013, Loureiro & de Sá 2015, Loureiro et al. 2018) and does not accord with the
results of some previous studies (Hrbek & Larson 1999, Murphy et al. 1999, Hrbek et al.
2004, Vermeulen & Hrbek 2005). However, more recent evidence supports the validity of the
genus Anablepsoides and the tribe Melanorivulini (Costa et al. 2016, Amorim & Costa 2022).
Anablepsoides are small to medium-sized [30 to 120 mm standard length (SL)] non-
annual rivulids (Costa 2011, Loureiro & de Sá 2015), which can be easily differentiated from
other members of the subfamily Rivulinae by the presence of scales on the entire ventral
section of the head (Costa 2011). They are distributed in the Amazon and Orinoco river basins,
and coastal river drainages in northern and northeastern South America and the Lesser Antilles
(Costa 2011, Loureiro et al. 2018, Amorim & Costa 2022). They inhabit the shallower parts
of perennial lotic and lentic water bodies in forests and savannas from sea level up to 1000 m
above sea level (Costa 2011, Valdesalici & Schindler 2011, Loureiro & de Sá 2015, Amorim
& Costa 2022). Although members of this genus, unlike seasonal rivulids, depend on the
presence of water during embryonic development, at least some species are known to exhibit
adaptations that allow them to stay out of water for long periods (Turko & Wright 2015,
Livingston et al. 2018, Espírito-Santo et al. 2019).
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At infrageneric level and informally, based on coloration patterns and other visible
morphological characteristics, Anablepsoides are divided into three species complexes (Huber
1992 in Costa 2010, Costa et al. 2013, Amorim & Costa 2022), although the differences in
some cases are subtle (Huber 1999, Valdesalici & Schindler 2011). From a biogeographic
perspective, the A. urophthalmus complex comprises species from the middle and lower
Amazon basin, the Orinoco basin and coastal rivers drainages; the A. limoncochae complex
groups species from western Amazonia; and the A. ornatus complex brings together species
from central Amazonia (Costa et al. 2013, Amorim & Costa 2022). However, these species
complexes could not be confirmed based on molecular analysis by Amorim & Costa (2022),
who identified only two main clades within the genus. The first, called clade α, corresponds
to the species of the A. urophthalmus complex; while the second, called clade β, mostly
includes the species inhabiting the upper and middle Amazon basin, belonging to the A.
ornatus and A. limoncochae complexes.
To date, three species of Anablesoides have been recorded in Bolivia (Valdesalici &
Gil 2019) and all were described from material collected in the country. While A. beniensis
(Myers, 1927) has a relatively wide distribution in the central basin of the Madeira river in
Bolivia and Brazil (Costa 2006), the other two – A. chapare Valdesalici & Gil, 2017 and A.
bibosi Valdesalici & Gil, 2019 – are only known from their type localities in the pre-Andean
upper Chapare river basin in Cochabamba Department (Valdesalici & Gil 2017, 2019).
Here, the first record of Anablepsoides christinae (Huber, 1992) from Bolivia is
presented, based on material deposited at the Museo de Historia Natural Noel Kempff
Mercado (MHNNKM), Santa Cruz Department. It is a species of the A. limoncochae complex
belonging to clade β sensu Amorim & Costa (2022), that until now was thought to be endemic
to the Madre de Dios river basin in the Peruvian Amazon (Ortega 2016).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A set of five specimens (MNKP-4887) deposited in the ichthyological collection of
the MHNNKM, and previously identified only to family level (Rivulidae), was examined.
Two juveniles were excluded because of their small size (SL < 20 mm) and from the remaining
specimens (two males and one female) morphological characteristics were reviewed, and
morphometric and meristic values were recorded. Taxonomic identification was carried out
following diagnostics for species of the Anablepsoides limoncochae complex (Huber 1992,
Staeck 1994, Costa 2006, Valdesalici & Schindler 2011, 2013, Nielsen et al. 2016, Valdesalici
& Gil 2017, 2019). Morphometric and meristic values were taken according to Costa (1995)
and measurements were obtained with a digital Vernier caliper with ± 0,01 mm accuracy. For
the nomenclature of the cephalic scale pattern, the proposal of Hoedeman (1958) was
followed. The morphometric and meristic values obtained were compared with those indicated
in the original description of Anablepsoides christinae (Huber, 1992). The nomenclature of
hydrologic units (HU) using Pfafstetter classification is according to Lehner & Grill (2013)
Kempffiana 2023 19(1): 35-43
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and the names of water bodies and basins follow SUNIT (2007), when available. The
geographical location of the collection locality was taken from the legal norm for the creation
of the Madidi National Park and Integrated Management Natural Area (PNANMI Madidi;
D.S. No. 24123 of September 1995).
Examined material: MNKP-4887, 5 ind., 2 males 33,5 – 41,3 mm SL, 1 female 40,1
mm SL & 2 juveniles < 20 mm SL; Bolivia, La Paz Department, Abel Iturralde Province,
PNAMI [sic] Madidi, Campamento Alto Madidi, 25/VIII/2004, Col. I.
RESULTS
Anablepsoides christinae (Huber, 1992)
Body cylindrical fusiform, slightly compressed in posterior section; dorsal and
ventral profile slightly convex from head to the insertion of dorsal and anal fins, respectively,
from where it continues with concave curvature to the base of caudal fin; greatest body depth
at posterior half between pectoral and ventral fins, greatest body width at the insertion of
pectoral fins. Head wider than high; with obtuse snout and upper mouth; eyes forward and
large. Unpaired and pectoral fins rounded; oval-shaped caudal fin; origin of dorsal fin above
base of 8th to 9th anal fin rays. Scales large and cycloid, all over body and head, including
ventral section of head and basal section of caudal fin, but absent at base of other fins; flank
scales with contact organs at section between pectoral fins and just before dorsal fin origin;
frontal cephalic scales E patterned.
Figure 1. Anablepsoides christinae (MNKP 4887). A) Male, 33,47 mm SL; B)
Female, 40,07 mm SL. © Foto: H.A. Drawert
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Coloration in alcohol of body in males pale brown background with six dark longitudinal
stripes, thicker than interspaces at humeral section becoming narrower posteriorly and
reducing to three stripes noticeably thinner than interspaces at caudal peduncle; dorsal section
with less pale background and dark spots distributed asymmetrically on both flanks so that, in
dorsal view, they form a zigzag pattern, but do not come together at dorsal profile line; anterior
ventral section, from height of the insertion of pectoral fins to the base of ventral fins, with
lighter background coloration and without dark markings. Head with snout and infra- and
postorbital section darker, operculum with inferoposterior section paler than the rest of head
and with dark opercular spot in the region of angulus superior. Paired fins whitish without
dark markings; anal and dorsal fin with thin dark stripe on distal edge, also dorsal fin with
slightly darker posterior basal section and dark longitudinal stripe at inferomedial section;
caudal fin darker than the others, without conspicuous dark markings. Coloration in alcohol
of female similar to males, but without longitudinal stripes on flanks and with characteristic
peduncular spot between upper base of caudal fin and caudal peduncle; anal fin at posterior
basal section with dark spots without pattern, dorsal fin with darker basal and distal section;
and caudal fin with dark spots forming an incospicuous reticulate pattern in medial and dorsal
sections.
The morphological characteristics described above are consistent with those
indicated for Anablepsoides christinae and the values of morphometric measurements and
meristic counts mostly overlap (Table 1). Likewise, the diagnostic characters established allow
the identification of the revised specimens as belonging to the indicated species. According to
label, the reviewed specimens (MNKP 4887) were collected in La Paz Department, Abel
Iturralde Province, locality PNAMI [sic] Madidi "Campamento Alto Madidi". This collection
locality data is corrected and complemented with the following: PNANMI Madidi,
Campamento Alto Madidi (13°37'30" S, 68°45'00" W), 250 m of elevation; Beni river basin,
Madidi river sub-basin (Pfaffstetter hydrologic unit 62266569).
FINAL CONSIDERATIONS
Seegers (1988), in the description of Rivulus bolivianus, a species synonymized with
Anablepsoides beniensis by Costa (2006), mentions the presence in Bolivia of an undescribed
species of the A. limoncochae complex. It is possible that this is the first reference to the
presence of A. christinae in the country, although the species was only described by Huber in
1992; but it could be A. chapare or A. bibosi described more recently by Valdesalici & Gil
(2017, 2019), or an as yet species undescribed.
The possible presence of a species of Anablepsoides in the Acre river basin (Pando
department), cited as Rivulus aff. christinae, is mentioned by Valdesalici & Gil (2017).
However, these authors indicate that the identity of the species needs to be confirmed by new
collections as it is based on reports from an internet page and a specimen preserved in poor
condition ("unfortunately faded") held in a private collection.
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Table 1. Morphometric and meristic values of Anablepsoides christinae.
MNKP 4887
Type material1
Male 1
Male 2
Female
Max
Min
Morphometric measures
Standard length (mm)
41,3
33,47
40,07
61,4
-
Percents of standard length
Body depth
18,98
20,41
19,34
23
19
Caudal peduncle depth
14,87
15,06
17,64
-
-
Pre-dorsal length
78,21
75,11
75,87
83
79
Pre-pelvic length
50,27
50,13
49,14
55
53
Dorsal-fin base length
9,37
10,76
8,54
-
-
Anal-fin base length
19,69
17,63
15,47
-
-
Caudal-fin length
22,54
28,65
23,18
-
-
Pectoral-fin length
17,48
17,15
14,13
21,5
20
Pelvic-fin length
8,86
8,37
5,17
-
-
Head length
23,41
26,44
24,88
29
26
Percents of head length
Head depth
64,12
55,37
57,17
-
-
Head width
76,22
69,38
73,02
-
-
Snout length
33,82
35,25
30,79
-
-
Eye diameter
37,85
37,97
37,41
-
-
Meristic counts
Number of scales
Longitudinal series
41
42
44
41
38
Transverse series
10
11
10
10,12
9,5
Circumpeduncular rows
21
20
20
-
-
Number of rays
Pectoral fin
14
15
14
-
-
Pelvic fin
7
8
6
-
-
Dorsal fin
7
8
8
9
7
Anal fin
13
13
11
14
13
Caudal fin
23
22
23
-
-
1: Values from Huber (1992), except 2: from Huber (1999).
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Consequently, these references are insufficient to confirm the presence of A. christinae or
another species of the genus in addition to the three so far recorded from Bolivia, since in
none of the cases is there any reference to voucher specimens. The present publication, at least
partially, fills these information gaps by confirming the record of A. christinae based on the
examination of valid voucher specimens. The possibility of the presence of other species of
the genus in Bolivian territory, mainly in the Acre river basin, cannot ruled out.
Type specimens of Anablepsoides christinae were collected at Lake Tupac Amaru,
upper Madre de Dios river basin, near Puerto Maldonado in Tambopata Province of Madre de
Dios Department, Peru (Huber 1992). Other localities of occurrence reported by Staeck
(1994), Valdesalici & Schindler (2011) and Ortega (2016) are also in the upper Madre de Dios
river basin (HU 622664), always at 200 to 250 m above sea level. The specimens from Bolivia,
were collected at the same altitude (250 m above sea level according to Google Earth and
ESRI World Topo) but in the upper basin of the Beni river (HU 622665) near the
"Campamento Alto Madidi". This locality is on the Madidi river less than 15 km in straight
line from the watershed between the Madre de Dios and Beni river basins (Figure 2). Although
both basins converge near Riberalta in the north of Beni Department, Bolivia, more than 400
km in a straight line downstream, the presence of A. christinae in the upper basin of the Beni
river can be explained by the amphibious lifestyle of the members of this genus (Turko &
Wright 2015, Livingston et al. 2018, Espírito-Santo et al. 2019) that allows them to cross
watersheds dividing uplands. In addition, confirmation of the presence of A. christinae in the
Beni river basin extends the known distribution range to the species to this basin, which
implies the potential extension of its range, particularly in Bolivia.
The description of Anablepsoides christinae does not include values for all
morphometric and meristic characters proposed by Costa (1995), as not all values are known
for female individuals. The specimens examined for this work show slightly lower values in
morphometric measurements, compared with the values presented by Huber (1992, 1999),
possibly due to their smaller size and less advanced ontogenetic stage. On the other hand, all
meristic counts coincide with those indicated for A. christinae; except one specimen examined
has an additional scale in the longitudinal series, compared to the maximum value indicated
by Huber (1992).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We are grateful to Luzmila Arroyo, Kathia Rivero, Karina Osinaga, and other
colleagues at the MHNNKM, and especially to Carlos Ergueta, for their constant support. We
also want to thank Sebastián Serra, Thomas Litz and Wolfgang Staeck for sharing information
with us, without their support this paper would had significant gaps. Furthermore, we would
like to express our gratitude to “the guys” of the Killifish Foundation for their encouragement
and support.
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Figure 2. Occurrence localities of species of the Anablepsoides limoncochae complex in the
southwest Amazon basin (Sources: Huber 1992, Staeck 1994, Valdesalici & Schindler 2011,
2013, Nielsen et al. 2016, Valdesalici & Gil 2017, 2019)
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Manuscrito recibido en agosto 2022
Manejado por Erika Cuéllar
Aceptado en febrero de 2023
