Thalassoma bifasciatum (Bloch, 1791)

Angulo, Arturo, 2021, New records and range extensions to the Costa Rican freshwater fish fauna, with an updated checklist, Zootaxa 5083 (1), pp. 1-72 : 10

12) Thalassoma bifasciatum (Bloch, 1791) ;

Labridae .

Bluehead Wrasse; Cara De Cotorra ( Fig. 3F ).

Diagnosis: This species differs from the other species of the family occurring in the freshwaters of the country by the following combination of characters: body elongated, compressed and fusiform (vs. moderately elongated and compressed in Halichoeres spp. ); dorsal fin spines 8 (vs. 9 in Halichoeres spp. ); dorsal fin rays 13 (vs. 11 in Halichoeres spp. ); lateral line pored scales 26 (vs. 27 in Halichoeres spp. ); and coloration pattern (see Robertson & Van Tassell 2019).

Basis of the record: A single specimen was captured in the quebrada Cocles (Matina River basin), 2.5 km SE of Puerto Viejo, near the bridge on El Tucán-Cocles road, Limón (9.64221, -82.73588), at 22 m. a.s.l., on August 20, 2020, by Walter Carranza.

Remarks: This species inhabits reef areas, inshore bays and seagrass beds; it could be considered as an accidental/opportunistic visitor of freshwater ecosystems ( Robertson & Van Tassell 2019).

Figures

FIG. 3. New country records. (A) Mugil incilis, specimen captured in the Río Pacuare, near the mouth of the river, Siquirres, Limón (10.219424, -83.284898), at 8 m.a.s.l., on July 22, 2004, by Jorge Picado (UCR 2835-005). (B) Oligoplites saliens, specimen captured in the Caño Palma, near the Caño Palma Biological Station, Pococí, Limón (10.5938, -83.52731), at 11 m.a.s.l., on February 22, 2019, by Nathan Lovejoy et al. (UCR 3311-001). (C) Oreochromis aureus, specimen captured the Río Pacuar (Térraba river basin), 4 km SE of San Isidro del General, under bridge on road San Isidro-Dominical, San José (09.35264, -83.72790), at 619 m.a.s.l., on March 25, 2013 by Carlos Garita (UCR 3018-001). (D) Pangasianodon hypophthalmus, specimen captured in the laguna San Sebastian, Caño Negro, Alajuela (10.8630, -84.7807), at 41 m.a.s.l., on September 29, 2021, by Bryan Castro and Jader Urbina. (E) Rhencus macracanthus, specimen captured in the Río Lagarto, Chomes, Puntarenas (10.08320, -84.92064), at 15 m.a.s.l., on September 1, 1979, by William Bussing et al (UCR 1268-025). (F) Thalassoma bifasciatum, specimen captured in the Quebrada Cocles (Matina river basin), 2.5 km SE of Puerto Viejo, near the bridge on El Tucán-Cocles road, Limón (9.64221, -82.73588), at 22 m.a.s.l., on August 20, 2020, by Walter Carranza. (G) Trinectes fluviatilis, specimen captured in the Quebrada Cocal Amarillo, 5 Km N of Pavones, on the Puerto Pilón-Pavones road, Puntarenas (8.43643, - 83.09660), at 26 m.a.s.l., on March 30, 2021, by Arturo Angulo et al. (H) Trinectes xanthurus, specimen captured in the Río Tempisque (Tempisque river basin), at Puerto Humo, Guanacaste (10.31653, -85.35365), at 9 m.a.s.l., on January 25, 1976, by William Bussing et al. (UCR 0970-005). Range extensions. (I) Achirus declivis, specimen captured in the Río Moín, at the Puerto Fluvial JAPDEVA, Limón (09.99745, -83.08077), at 7 m.a.s.l., on December 14, 2006, by Karina Rodríguez (UCR 2761-003). (J) Amatitlania myrnae, specimen captured in the Río Estrella, Valle La Estrella, Limón (9.77552, -82.93240), at 13 m.a.s.l., on April 6, 2014, by Arturo Angulo. (K) Amphilophus citrinellus, specimen captured in the Río Bebedero, near Paso Real, Cañas, Guanacaste (10.43318, -85.15697), at 32 m.a.s.l., on August 7, 2021, by Luis Bolivar Montero-Chacón. (L) Brachyrhaphis olomina, specimens captured in an unnamed pound in the Reserva Biológica Monteverde, Altos de San Luis, Monteverde, Puntarenas (10.31667, -84.80932), at 1486 m.a.s.l., on July 6, 2019, by Arturo Angulo.